Natron Energy invests $1.4B to build sodium-ion battery manufacturing plant in North Carolina
Natron Energy, Inc. has announced plans to build a sodium-ion battery gigafactory in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. The company, which specializes in sodium-ion battery technology, will invest $1.4 billion into the 1.2 million-square-foot facility, which is expected to produce 24GW of Natron’s sodium-ion batteries annually. Natron also received a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) from the state’s Economic Investment Committee, and the company hopes to create 1,000 new jobs for the surrounding area. According to the company, the Edgecombe County facility will enable a 40x scale-up of Natron’s current production capacity.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, Colin Wessells, Founder and co-CEO, Natron Energy, said, “Today is a momentous day for Natron Energy. This flagship manufacturing facility will dramatically accelerate our efforts to deliver sodium-ion batteries to customers who are hungry for safe, reliable, and environmentally responsible energy storage solutions. After evaluating over 70 sites across 9 states, we found that North Carolina, with its leadership in the clean energy revolution, would make the perfect home for this project. We are proud to partner with the state on this ambitious project to deliver high-quality jobs to the community while advancing the electrification of our economy. We look forward to joining the Edgecombe County business community.”
Wendell Brooks, co-CEO, Natron Energy, added, “This facility advances Natron Energy’s position as the leader of the next battery revolution. Once operational, the Edgecombe County facility will accelerate Natron’s growth trajectory, allowing us to capitalize on the growing demand for efficient, safe, and reliable sodium-ion battery energy storage. We’re proud to be leading the charge in the advancement of a domestic battery supply chain, and we’re grateful for the partnership of local and state officials here in North Carolina.”
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About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
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