New battery tech could reshape energy storage economics

A UK-Ireland research alliance is betting on sodium—not lithium—as the future of battery innovation. Swansea University and the University of Limerick are developing “anode-free” sodium-metal batteries that eliminate the need to handle raw sodium during production. The result is a lightweight, high-energy solution that could drive cost efficiencies and reduce material dependency across EV and energy storage sectors.

This cross-border R&D is backed by the Wales-Ireland Research Alliance Award and positions both regions to compete more aggressively for Horizon Europe funding. For business energy leaders, it signals a shift: alternative chemistries are advancing fast—and could soon alter the supply chain dynamics, sustainability credentials, and energy resilience strategies you rely on.

Explore the full article for insight into what’s powering the next energy breakthrough.