Spain's Bihar Batteries Targets 2027 Sodium-Ion Pilot Production Line
San Sebastián-based startup Bihar Batteries has laid out an ambitious industrial roadmap that could position Spain at the forefront of European sodium-ion battery manufacturing. The company plans to launch its first pilot sodium-ion cell and storage projects in summer 2026, establish a pilot cell manufacturing line in 2027, and begin operations in 2028 — with the ultimate goal of building one of Europe's first sodium-ion battery gigafactories.
The Sodium-Ion Advantage: Why Bihar Chose This Chemistry
Bihar Batteries' focus on sodium-ion technology reflects a calculated strategic bet on the chemistry's unique advantages for stationary storage applications. Sodium-ion batteries offer greater thermal stability compared to lithium-based chemistries, which reduces reliance on complex cooling systems and lowers the total cost of ownership. This advantage is especially relevant for Bihar's target market — commercial and industrial (C&I) outdoor energy storage — where thermal management can account for a significant share of both capital and operating costs.
The company's sodium-ion battery pilot line represents a deliberate effort to compete not on lithium supply chains where China dominates, but on a chemistry where sodium's abundance — it's the sixth most common element in Earth's crust — provides a structural cost advantage. By targeting outdoor C&I applications where thermal stability translates directly to lower system complexity, Bihar has identified a market segment where sodium-ion's strengths align with customer needs. Shop now for proven LiFePO4 storage solutions while next-gen battery chemistries advance toward commercialization.
From Lab to Pilot Line: The CIC energiGUNE Partnership
Bihar Batteries has developed its proprietary sodium-ion cell technology in collaboration with Basque technology center CIC energiGUNE, a research institution recognized as one of Europe's leading battery research centers. Through this partnership, the company has produced its first pouch-cell demonstrators designed to optimize energy density and capacity retention under demanding thermal conditions. Bihar expects to have a cell ready for industrialization before the end of 2026 — a key milestone on the path toward commercial-scale manufacturing.
The pilot cell manufacturing line planned for Gipuzkoa province in 2027 will serve as the foundation for a future large-scale manufacturing facility. Bihar said it aims to demonstrate that Europe can compete not only in research and development but also in the advanced manufacturing of energy storage technologies. The facility will be used to validate industrial processes and lay the groundwork for scaling to gigafactory volumes — a critical step that many European battery startups have struggled to execute.
Funding the Vision: PERTE, Institutional Support, and Private Capital
Bihar Batteries has assembled a diverse funding base that reflects both institutional confidence and strategic alignment with European battery sovereignty goals. The company recently completed a €2 million ($2.3 million) capital increase backed by international investors, and has secured funding under both rounds of Spain's PERTE programme for the renewable energy value chain. The first project, awarded in 2025 and worth €2 million, focused on battery materials manufacturing and pack assembly. The second, recently awarded with an €8 million budget, will support the manufacturing and assembly of sodium-ion cells.
Bihar has also received institutional support from the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa and the Basque Government through its SPRI development agency. This combination of EU-level PERTE funding, regional institutional backing, and private international investment creates a financial foundation that many European battery startups lack. The company's prototypes integrate NX Technologies' battery management system, which incorporates advanced sensors and pyrotechnic fuses designed to improve safety and enable faster responses to electrical incidents.
Europe's Sodium-Ion Race: A Strategic Imperative
Bihar Batteries is not alone in pursuing sodium-ion commercialization — companies across Europe, North America, and Asia are racing to bring the technology to market. What distinguishes Bihar's approach is its end-to-end ambition: from proprietary cell chemistry developed with a leading research center, to pilot manufacturing, to gigafactory-scale production — all within a single company roadmap. If successful, Bihar's sodium-ion battery pilot line could become a blueprint for how European startups transition from research excellence to manufacturing competitiveness in the strategically critical battery sector.
For the energy storage industry, Bihar's progress bears watching. As lithium supply chains face continued geopolitical pressure and price volatility, diversification into sodium-ion chemistry is becoming less of a scientific curiosity and more of a strategic necessity. Bihar Batteries is betting that Spain — with its strong renewable energy sector, supportive industrial policy, and world-class research infrastructure — can become a European hub for the next generation of battery technology. Visit our store to explore AGAIC POWER's current-generation LiFePO4 battery solutions that deliver proven reliability today.
