Sodium battery research is gaining momentum in Berlin. BAM, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB), and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU) have officially opened the Berlin Battery Lab (BBL). The three partners want to develop resource-efficient battery technologies and speed up the path from research to practical use. In particular, they focus on sodium-based battery systems, new materials, innovative cell chemistries, and prototype production.
Sodium battery research brings three Berlin institutions together
The Berlin Battery Lab creates a shared platform for battery innovation. Here, BAM, HZB, and HU combine their strengths at one location in the German capital. As a result, the lab connects fundamental research, materials development, cell design, and safety testing in a more direct way.
Moreover, the lab supports cooperation with external partners from science and industry. This open structure should help start-ups and technology-driven companies test ideas faster and move promising concepts toward application.
Why the Berlin Battery Lab matters for sodium battery research
Berlin has become an important center for advanced battery research in recent years. At the same time, sodium-ion and lithium-sulfur batteries have gained attention as more sustainable storage options. Therefore, the Berlin Battery Lab strengthens an area that already has strong scientific expertise and growing industrial relevance.
BAM contributes deep knowledge in battery safety and innovative energy materials. HU brings leading academic expertise in sodium-ion batteries. Meanwhile, HZB adds years of experience in lithium-sulfur battery research and gives researchers access to BESSY II. This large-scale research facility is one of the world’s most powerful X-ray sources for studying electrochemical processes inside batteries.
Sodium battery research at the Berlin Battery Lab covers the full value chain
The new lab aims to cover the full research chain. Scientists develop battery materials, study cell chemistry, build prototypes, and test safety performance. Consequently, teams can align research steps more closely and reduce delays between discovery and technical validation.
HZB is also setting up a new pouch-cell laboratory for sodium-ion batteries. This addition supports practical development work and helps researchers produce and analyze realistic cell formats. In parallel, characterization tools at BESSY II allow teams to examine battery reactions in high detail.
Because all of these capabilities sit within one collaborative environment, the Berlin Battery Lab can support faster knowledge transfer. That matters for companies that want to scale sustainable battery technologies made in Europe.
Funding and political support for sodium battery research
The Berlin Battery Lab also received strong political backing at its inauguration. Berlin Senator for Science, Health and Care Dr. Ina Czyborra said the lab shows how Berlin combines top-level research with technological needs. She also emphasized the importance of battery research for Germany’s High-Tech Agenda.
In addition, the State of Berlin will provide the Berlin Battery Lab with an extra €2.4 million from the European Regional Development Fund. This funding will run from 2026 to 2028. The investment underlines the strategic importance of battery research for resilient value chains and lower dependence on critical raw materials.
Leaders outline the goals of sodium battery research in Berlin
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Panne, President of BAM, stressed the need to bring new battery technologies into practice more quickly. He explained that the Berlin Battery Lab connects research, development, cell manufacturing, safety, and regulation in one place. Therefore, it can support the practical use of sustainable innovations.
Prof. Dr. Julia von Blumenthal, President of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, described batteries as a key technology for future sustainable energy supply. She said the new lab unites the expertise of three outstanding institutions and strengthens collaboration with industry.
Prof. Dr. Bernd Rech, Scientific Director of HZB, highlighted the joint competencies of the partners. He also pointed to the new pouch-cell lab and advanced characterization methods at BESSY II as major assets for the site.
Sodium battery research gains a scientific boost through fellowship recognition
During the inauguration, Prof. Dr. Philipp Adelhelm of HU received a Wilhelm-Ostwald Fellowship from BAM. The award honors his work in the physical chemistry of batteries, especially in sodium-ion technology. Furthermore, the fellowship supports closer scientific collaboration between HU and BAM.
Adelhelm serves as one of the three scientific directors of the Berlin Battery Lab. He leads the lab together with Dr. Tim-Patrick Fellinger from BAM and Prof. Dr. Yan Lu from HZB. Their joint leadership reflects the lab’s interdisciplinary structure.
What comes next for sodium battery research
The Berlin Battery Lab gives Berlin a strong platform for next-generation battery development. By combining materials research, prototype production, safety testing, and advanced analytics, the lab creates clear value for science and industry. In addition, its open partnership model makes it especially relevant for start-ups and companies looking for research access.
Overall, the new center positions Berlin as a key location for sodium battery research in Germany. It also supports the development of resource-efficient battery technologies with practical industrial potential. With expertise from BAM, HZB, and HU under one roof, the Berlin Battery Lab is set to play an important role in the future of sustainable energy storage.
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