Resilient Power in the Deep Freeze
Researchers have achieved a significant breakthrough in energy storage for cold climates. Newly tested sodium-ion batteries can function effectively at temperatures where conventional lithium-ion systems lose most of their capacity. In trials published by Communications Chemistry in September 2025, sodium-ion pouch cells maintained 74 Wh/kg at −25 °C (−13 °F) and 46 Wh/kg at −50 °C (−58 °F), and even charged under solar input at −100 °C (−148 °F).
These results mark a step forward for renewable systems in northern and high-altitude regions, where cold weather can reduce battery efficiency by 20–40 percent. For remote communities or industrial sites that depend on microgrids, this resilience could lessen the reliance on diesel backup and improve uptime for wind and solar generation.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of C3.