Natron Energy, Inc., a global leader in sodium-ion battery technology, has selected Edgecombe County, North Carolina, as the site for its first gigafactory for the technology in the United States. The company will invest nearly $1.4 billion to build the factory at the Kingsboro megasite in the eastern part of the state.
“North Carolina, with its leadership in clean energy production and commitment to fostering innovation, is an ideal location for Natron and this groundbreaking facility,” said Colin Wessells, founder and co-CEO of Natron Energy. “This facility will dramatically increase the company’s production capacity and create a sustainable growth trajectory as we seek to fundamentally change the way industrial energy is used. We are grateful to partner with Governor Cooper, Secretary Sanders and various state and local officials for their support. We look forward to being a member of the North Carolina business community for years to come.”
“As the world moves toward a clean energy future, companies increasingly need safe, reliable and efficient energy storage systems,” said Wendell Brooks, co-CEO of Natron Energy. “The Kingsboro mega-site not only offers ideal location characteristics, but also access to a world-class workforce and a business-friendly climate. With today’s announcement, Natron is well positioned to meet this growing demand. The state of North Carolina is a leader in clean energy production and we are proud to have the opportunity to contribute to this growing legacy in Edgecombe County.”
Founded in 2012 and based in Santa Clara, California, Natron Energy is an innovator in the research, development and manufacturing of sodium-ion batteries. The company’s battery cells utilize its patented Prussian Blue electrodes to deliver safe, high-performance and long-lasting battery energy storage solutions.
Governor Roy Cooper said, “North Carolina’s momentum in the clean energy economy is reaching epic proportions with today’s news. Natron Energy’s decision to build this large and unique battery factory in our state will help the state reduce greenhouse gas emissions while creating good jobs in Rocky Mount, Nash and Edgecombe counties and many other places in Eastern North Carolina.”
Applications for Natron’s products include backup power systems for AI data centers, military and defense applications, and powering fast-charging stations for electric vehicles, among others. This application flexibility gives the company a broad customer base as it sees increasing demand across a variety of end-market segments. The company’s North Carolina project will begin operations in the Kingsboro Business Park, which a recent study named North Carolina’s premier mega-site.
The North Carolina Department of Commerce coordinated the state’s recruitment of Natron Energy, which also involved several state, regional and local organizations.
“North Carolina has quickly become the center of a rapidly growing network of battery manufacturers and their suppliers that is fueling our state’s economy,” said Machelle Baker Sanders, North Carolina Secretary of Commerce. “I am pleased that a top company like Natron Energy has chosen one of our state’s leading mega-sites, where I am confident it will thrive thanks to North Carolina’s continued investment in infrastructure and workforce training systems.”
Natron Energy’s project in the state, which will officially be carried out through a newly formed subsidiary, is supported in part by a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) approved today by the state’s Economic Investment Committee. Over the 12-year life of that grant, the project is expected to grow the state’s economy by $3.4 billion.
The state also plans to provide additional support to the project by making its first-ever use of the North Carolina Megasite Readiness Program, a state grant program open to local governments that provides funding to prepare or upgrade suitable industrial sites to the level of competition required in the current market. The fund was established by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2022 and is administered by the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. Grants from this fund can be used to finance site preparation, road improvements and additional utility infrastructure. Grants from the Megasite Readiness Program are awarded to local governments and must be approved by the state’s Economic Investment Committee, the same body that approves JDIG grants. The state expects Edgecombe County to receive a grant of up to $30 million from the fund, subject to final approval by the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina board and the EIC.
Salaries for the new positions will vary by position, but will average $64,071 overall. Once the plant is fully staffed, it will add approximately $68 million annually to the regional payroll. The average annual wage in Edgecombe County is currently $43,183.
Partners with the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of NC on this project included the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, the North Carolina Departments of Transportation and Environmental Quality, and the North Carolina Commerce Division of Workforce Solutions , CSX, North Carolina Railroad Company, Dominion Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas, Edgecombe Community College, Edgecombe County and the Carolinas Gateway Partnership.
