Peak Energy, a California-backed startup, is building the first U.S. commercial-scale sodium-ion battery pack factory in Sacramento to serve grid storage, data centers, and large facilities, signaling a major push into stationary storage.

The Sacramento plant aims to manufacture three to four battery systems per day, each housing roughly 8,000 cells, with initial products expected to roll out in early 2027.

Peak Energy emphasizes stationary storage where size is less critical, touting over $1.1 billion in preorders and outlining early 2027 as the start of production.

Initial battery cells will be imported from China, with potential diversification to other Asian suppliers later, while Peak focuses on delivering end products rather than building cells itself.

Peak has a strategic partnership with General Motors to scale domestic sodium-ion supplies and potentially broaden sourcing across Asia.

Sodium-ion batteries use abundant sodium and offer improved safety with lower overheating risk and simpler cooling, though they store less energy per volume than lithium-ion batteries.

Advocates say sodium-ion can reduce operating costs by eliminating cooling needs required for lithium-ion, while maintaining safety benefits.

Compared with lithium-ion, sodium-ion batteries are larger and heavier for electric vehicle use due to lower energy density, but are safer with lower fire risk.

Peak Energy has not yet secured federal clean-energy tax credits but has earned a $10.5 million California state tax credit; leadership points to partnerships and validation from GM and CATL.

Customers include Jupiter Power, Energy Vault, and RWE Americas, with utilities and hyperscalers in advanced talks and ongoing grid deployments and discussions with a California utility.

The company reports over $1.1 billion in pre-orders and projects about 239 new jobs tied to the Sacramento plant, alongside the state tax credit.

Peak argues its products are well-suited for large-scale utility, hyperscale, and data-center storage, though broader market adoption will ultimately hinge on ongoing costs and demand.