Sunrise New Energy Co., Ltd., a prominent developer of battery materials, has announced that its groundbreaking sodium-ion battery anode materials project has received official approval and funding from the Guizhou Provincial Department of Science and Technology. Following rigorous evaluations by expert review panels, the initiative—titled “Research and Demonstration of Key Engineering Technologies for Long-Life, Low-Cost Sodium-Ion Battery Hard Carbon Anode Materials”—secured approximately $960,000 through a special provincial science and technology grant.

This substantial funding will support the research and demonstration of innovative hard carbon anode materials specifically designed for sodium-ion batteries. These batteries have been attracting increasing interest due to their affordability and excellent performance in low-temperature environments, positioning them as a promising alternative for large-scale energy storage systems and electric vehicles—particularly in northern, colder climates where traditional lithium-ion batteries can struggle.

Despite the potential advantages, broader commercialization of sodium-ion battery technology has faced significant challenges, particularly in the development of viable anode materials. Sunrise’s proprietary hard carbon anode stands out in the market with an initial Coulombic efficiency of at least 90% and a capacity retention rate of 85% or more after 1,000 charge-discharge cycles. These performance benchmarks are considered critical in overcoming key technological barriers that have hindered the industrial scalability of sodium-ion batteries.

The project led by Sunrise is currently the only anode-focused initiative in Guizhou Province to receive this category of funding, a recognition that underscores the company’s leadership and innovation in this emerging field. Details of the approved projects, including Sunrise’s, have been published on the official website of the Guizhou Department of Science and Technology.

Haiping Hu, CEO of Sunrise, expressed excitement about the project's approval, stating, “We are honored to lead advancements in long-lasting, cost-effective sodium-ion battery materials. This funding represents not only an endorsement of our technological capabilities but also a significant milestone as we expand our leadership beyond lithium-ion batteries into next-generation energy solutions.”

The company views this development as a catalyst for accelerating the commercialization of sodium-ion batteries, especially in applications requiring fixed energy storage solutions. With the support of this grant, Sunrise plans to push forward its engineering and demonstration efforts, positioning itself as a front-runner in battery innovation on both a national and international scale.

Based in Zibo, Shandong Province, China, Sunrise New Energy Co., Ltd. operates through a joint venture focused on the production and sale of graphite anode materials used in lithium-ion batteries. The joint venture has successfully completed the construction of a manufacturing facility in Guizhou Province with an annual production capacity of 50,000 tons. The facility is powered by low-cost renewable energy, enabling Sunrise New Energy to maintain both a competitive cost structure and a reduced environmental footprint in the production of graphite anode materials.