As the global trend towards clean energy accelerates, countries are urgently seeking reliable, cost-effective battery technologies to support the integration of renewables, electric mobility and grid stability. While lithium-ion batteries are being adopted rapidly, growing geopolitical risks, the scarcity of critical minerals, and environmental concerns are exposing serious vulnerabilities in global supply chains.
In response, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), in collaboration with UK institutions, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Imperial College London and Coventry University, is embarking on a research project to develop and demonstrate a locally relevant alternative: sodium-ion battery technology. This initiative aims to explore cost-effective, sustainable energy storage solutions tailored to South Africa’s unique energy needs and mineral landscape.
Sodium-ion batteries have emerged as a promising next-generation solution, particularly for countries like South Africa. Unlike lithium, sodium is abundant, inexpensive and more evenly distributed globally. These batteries can tolerate wider temperature ranges than lithium iron phosphate and nickel-manganese-cobalt batteries and offer a safer and more environmentally benign profile. Crucially, South Africa can leverage its domestic vanadium resources and biomass-derived carbon from agricultural waste to manufacture these batteries, enabling the development of a fully localised and sustainable battery value chain.
Dr Mmalewane Modibedi, Energy Storage Testbed (ESTB) and Electrochemical Energy Technology (EET) research group leader within the CSIR Energy Research Centre, emphasised that by forging stronger ties with UK research partners, “we accelerate not just the pace of discovery, but the translation of breakthroughs into resilient, locally‑relevant battery technologies. This collaboration empowers us to build a sustainable energy future grounded in our own mineral resources, skilled people, and climate imperatives”, Dr Modibedi exclaimed.
This initiative aligns with South Africa’s broader energy strategy: to reduce dependence on imported technologies and enhance national energy security. It also represents a significant step toward realising the country’s industrialisation goals through the development of green technologies that are both environmentally and economically sustainable.
This collaborative project draws on the unique strengths of each partner:
- The CSIR brings deep local expertise in electrochemical systems and battery testing. Through its EET and ESTB research groups, the organisation will validate battery performance under real-world conditions, including within existing municipal and industry energy projects.
- Imperial College London contributes cutting-edge cell assembly capabilities through its DIGIBAT facility, enabling high-throughput and automated battery manufacturing research.
- Coventry University adds value through its expertise in multilayer pouch fabrication, which is key to building scalable and efficient battery prototypes.
Together, the consortium will co-design, build and test a sodium-ion battery demonstrator system, creating a crucial stepping stone toward industrialisation and commercial deployment.
Dr Modibedi further emphasised, “Our EET and ESTB teams stand at the core of this collaboration, bringing deep technical expertise in material development, prototype development, battery testing and sustainability analysis. Together with our UK counterparts, we are driving a research agenda that not only advances cutting-edge battery technologies but also ensures they are viable, scalable, and aligned with South Africa’s energy transition priorities.”
One of the most compelling aspects of this project is its potential to unlock new economic value from South Africa’s natural and agricultural resources. By converting agricultural waste into high-performance carbon materials and integrating vanadium into sodium-ion battery chemistries, the project not only advances technology but also supports rural development, job creation and circular economy principles.
Beyond economic opportunities, this research directly contributes to energy resilience. By cultivating a domestic battery industry, South Africa can reduce its reliance on fragile global supply chains, ensure more stable electricity access and support the national grid with flexible, scalable energy storage solutions.
This partnership lays the groundwork for a homegrown sodium-ion battery manufacturing sector, driven by innovation, skills development and cross-continental collaboration. The project is not just about technology; it is about building long-term capacity for South Africa to participate meaningfully in the global energy transition.
By leveraging both local materials and international expertise, the CSIR and its UK partners are demonstrating how science and innovation can reshape the energy landscape, making it more secure, inclusive and sustainable.
This project represents a bold, forward-looking approach to one of the most urgent challenges of our time: how to store renewable energy safely, affordably and sustainably.