MOLL Batterien has received a €22 million funding certificate from Bavaria and the EU to build Europe’s first sodium-ion battery production in Lichtenfels.
MOLL Batterien received a €22 million funding certificate to set up Europe’s first production of sodium-ion batteries (NIB) in Lichtenfels, handed over by Bavarian Economy Minister Hubert Aiwanger and EU representative Wolfgang Bücherl. The company is investing more than €100 million in the site and plans to create over 120 new jobs and apprenticeships.
According to MOLL, sodium-ion batteries offer key advantages over lithium-ion technology:
- Higher safety and better temperature resistance
- Better charge and discharge rates, with deep discharge possible
- No lithium or cobalt, making them more environmentally friendly and sustainable
This makes NIB particularly suitable for large stationary storage systems that help stabilise power grids. A total of 15,000 m² of production and office space is ready for production to start in the third quarter of 2026. Managing Director Dr. Klaus Eichhorn called the funding a quantum leap for Lichtenfels and an important step towards technological sovereignty for Europe.