EnBW

With over 29,000 employees, EnBW is one of the largest energy companies in Germany and Europe. It supplies around 5.5 million customers with electricity and gas. As part of its transformation from a traditional energy company to a sustainable infrastructure group, the expansion of renewable energy sources and of the distribution and transmission grids for electricity, gas and hydrogen are cornerstones of EnBW’s growth strategy and the focus of its investments. Until 2030, EnBW plans gross investments of €40 billion, around 90 percent of which will be invested in Germany. By then, around 80 percent of EnBW’s generation portfolio is to consist of renewable energies, and the company aims to phase out coal by the end of 2028. These are key milestones on the road to the company’s climate neutrality in 2035.

EnBW is pioneering the integration of battery storage systems into all future solar parks, becoming the first energy company in Germany to adopt this approach. These storage systems will be a central component of EnBW’s path to expand electricity generation from solar energy. We aim to continue driving the expansion of solar energy and achieve an output of 2.6 GW peak by 2030. Simultaneously, we plan to significantly increase battery capacity and extend its application to other areas. We are committed to introducing maximally safe and sustainable battery storage systems. In alignment with this vision, the EPISODE initiative seeks to establish a productive and cost-competitive European non-lithium battery value chain. It aims to lay the groundwork for industrial production of sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries in Europe, with a strategic focus on ensuring resource independence for the continent. The objectives of EPISODE align closely with EnBW’s commitment to equipping future energy storage systems with sustainable and innovative technologies based on widely available materials.

Based on data generated and provided by EPISODE partners, including insights on battery aging, electrical performance, and safety, EnBW will explore potential future scenarios for the application of sodium-ion battery (Na-Ion) technology for its business applications. The analysis will cover use cases such as stationary storage for renewable energy integration in solar and wind power plants, industrial energy storage, and backup solutions for charging stations. Additionally, EnBW’s work within EPISODE will focus on a comprehensive evaluation of the economic, operational, and strategic factors influencing the industrial-scale adoption of Na-ion technology. This includes making new technologies and processes accessible to our business while highlighting both the opportunities and challenges associated with this transformative innovation.