Natron Energy has announced plans to build the first sodium-ion battery gigafactory in North Carolina, marking a $1.4 billion investment. The facility will be located on a 437-acre site at the Kingsboro megasite in Edgecombe County and will span approximately 1.2 million square feet.
The gigafactory is set to produce 24 gigawatts (GW) of sodium-ion batteries annually, significantly expanding Natron Energy’s current production capacity by 40 times. The batteries, noted for being the only UL-listed sodium-ion batteries available, will serve multiple sectors including microgrids, data centers, electric vehicle (EV) fast charging, and telecommunications.
The project has received support through a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) approved by North Carolina’s Economic Investment Committee. The JDIG agreement includes up to $21.75 million in potential reimbursements over 12 years. The factory is projected to create over 1,000 local clean energy jobs and contribute approximately $3.4 billion to the state’s economy over the grant period.
Additionally, the facility is expected to benefit from support under the North Carolina Megasite Readiness Programme.