Just one year after forming a strategic partnership, Stora Enso and Altris have unveiled a significant milestone in their push to develop sustainable sodium-ion battery technology in Europe: prototype battery cells made from salt, iron, and wood are now a reality—manufactured using industrial equipment and locally sourced renewable materials.
The companies will present their latest advancements this week at The Battery Show Europe 2025, showcasing early-stage sodium-ion cells assembled in Sweden. These cells integrate Lignode, Stora Enso’s lignin-based anode material derived from Nordic forests, with Altris’s cutting-edge sodium-ion chemistry.
“This partnership is about more than materials—it’s about building a European sodium-ion battery technology that is resilient, traceable and truly sustainable,” said Juuso Konttinen, SVP & Head of Biomaterials Growth at Stora Enso. “Together with Altris, we’re showing that innovation, local sourcing, and industrial collaboration can accelerate the transition to fossil-free energy without relying on critical raw materials from outside Europe.”
Since their collaboration began in 2024, Stora Enso and Altris have quickly progressed from joint R&D to pilot-scale production. The 20 Ah, 3V sodium-ion cells developed so far demonstrate promising technical performance and validate the potential of building a fully European battery value chain.
“We’ve demonstrated that European sodium-ion cells are technically viable and can be produced with local materials,” said Ronnie Mogensen, Chief Strategy Officer at Altris. “Working with Stora Enso allows us to match our cell technology with a bio-based anode that’s scalable and sustainable. Together, we’re building batteries that Europe can be proud of.”
As battery demand in Europe is projected to increase 14-fold by 2030, sodium-ion technology emerges as a complementary alternative to lithium-ion. These batteries are cost-effective, non-toxic, and made from abundant and non-critical elements, offering strategic benefits for European industrial resilience, climate goals, and supply chain sovereignty.
This partnership exemplifies how cross-industry collaboration can drive innovation into practical solutions—laying the groundwork for a future European battery ecosystem built not from rare earths, but from salt, iron, wood, and air.
Stora Enso is a leading global provider of renewable products in packaging, biomaterials, wooden construction, and paper. With roots dating back to the 13th century, the company is committed to replacing fossil-based materials with low-carbon, bio-based alternatives. Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Stora Enso operates globally and is listed on the Helsinki and Stockholm stock exchanges.
Altris is a Swedish battery technology company specializing in the development and manufacture of sodium-ion battery materials and cells. Focused on sustainability, safety, and scalability, Altris uses abundant and non-toxic raw materials—such as sodium, iron, and wood-derived components—to offer an environmentally friendly alternative to lithium-ion batteries. Headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden, Altris aims to accelerate the global transition to fossil-free energy.
