Two years ago, sodium-ion battery pioneer Natron Energy was busy preparing its specially formulated sodium batteries for mass production. The company slipped a little past its 2023 kickoff plans, but it didn't fall too far behind as far as mass battery production goes.

Natron Energy Inc. bills the facility near the Lake Michigan shore as the first full-scale U.S. plant for making sodium-ion batteries.

The first sodium-ion battery plant in the U.S. started operations Monday, offering an alternative to lithium-based storage that currently dominates the market.

Natron Energy Inc., developer sodium-ion battery technology, began commercial-scale operations April 29 at manufacturing facility in Holland

The idea of sodium-ion battery production is starting to take off, with the development of models for both industry and electric mobility. This technology is considered both safer and more sustainable than traditional lithium-ion batteries.