The large-scale commercialization of sodium-ion batteries is accelerating, with costs expected to fall below 600 yuan/kWh by 2025, halving the price of lead-acid batteries. This has shaken the energy storage market structure, prompting lead-acid manufacturers to urgently cut prices to mitigate the impact. This article examines the sodium-ion battery replacement pathway, industry chain changes, and future trends.

The arrival of sodium batteries: an energy storage revolution that shakes the dominance of lead-acid batteries

In 2025, the energy storage sector experienced a structural earthquake. Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) rapidly entered the market, offering low cost, high safety, and a viable alternative to lithium and lead batteries. Some large-scale energy storage projects began transitioning from lead-acid batteries to SIBs , and the industry chain was shaken, impacting raw materials, system integration, and even the bidding system.

1. Cost cut: Sodium batteries launch a dimensionality reduction attack on lead-acid batteries