Natron Energy, Inc., a global leader in manufacturing of sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries, and specialty chemicals firm Arxada AG (Basel, Switzerland) announced the successful initiation of the large-scale production of battery-grade Prussian blue (ferric ferrocyanide) at Arxada’s facility in Visp, Switzerland. The world-class production facility will immediately begin supplying Natron with materials to produce up to 600 MW battery capacity annually. The initiation of Prussian blue production by Arxada follows the supply agreement between Arxada and Natron announced in Q1 2021.
Natron is the world leader in sodium-ion batteries based on their patented Prussian blue technology, and the only company shipping UL-listed sodium-ion products in the marketplace today. Battery grade Prussian blue has a unique chemical composition that is different from the common pigment utilized in blue jeans and paint. This composition results in breakthrough battery performance, allowing full charge and discharge in minutes for tens of thousands of cycles. Natron’s battery grade Prussian blue material can be manufactured at high volume and low cost in existing fine chemicals plants. Natron batteries do not require mined ore or rare minerals, removing these carbon intensive feedstocks from our products and reducing strain on industrial customer ESG compliance initiatives.
Through a highly collaborative process, Arxada has expanded its existing Visp facility for the high-volume production of these battery grade Prussian blue materials. The facility has successfully completed trial runs and has begun manufacturing products.
Antje Gerber, President of Arxada’s Specialty Products Solutions business, said: “Arxada’s supply of Prussian blue to Natron marks our entry into the electrodes for battery materials market, as part of our strategy to help our customers develop cleaner, greener and more efficient solutions across a broad spectrum of end markets. Leveraging over a century of fine chemicals production experience, Arxada has expanded its existing facility to produce these battery grade materials to Natron’s specifications. We are pleased to have partnered with Natron to enable high-volume production of battery grade Prussian blue materials to fuel global deployments of this critical and innovative battery technology.”
Natron CEO, Colin Wessells, stated: “Natron and Arxada have worked extremely hard to reach our goal of 600 MW of annual production capacity and we are thrilled to have achieved this milestone together. The Prussian blue supplied by Arxada will be transformed in our Holland, Michigan, US factory into UL-listed sodium-ion battery products. Our customers in the data center, UPS, and energy storage markets are eager for Natron to scale and deliver the product quickly. The current market for Li-ion materials and batteries is increasingly challenged by limited supply of critical minerals. By collaborating with Arxada, Natron can provide cost-effective battery products, manufactured in the US.”
The Swiss Canton of Valais provided support for construction of the Arxada Prussian blue facility, and has been a leader in attracting battery materials manufacturing, increasing local employment, and helping reduce global carbon emissions. “Natron is incredibly grateful for the support of the Canton of Valais, which was instrumental in helping us achieve the milestone of mass production,” said Wessells.
Natron’s batteries, which store sodium ions in electrode materials based on Prussian blue materials, offer high power density, longer service life, and unique safety characteristics over other battery technologies. Natron manufactures its batteries in the US, and requires zero lithium, cobalt, copper, nickel, or other conflict minerals.