Britain’s Royal Navy faced concerns in the early 20th century when they switched from coal to oil, as the latter had to be imported. Winston Churchill argued that a diversity of supply was crucial for safety and certainty. Today, politicians in wealthy nations are grappling with the challenge of transitioning their entire economies from fossil fuels to low-carbon electricity to address climate change. They worry about their geopolitical vulnerability, particularly regarding batteries. While lithium-ion batteries are dominant, lithium is scarce and mainly refined in China. Sodium-based batteries offer an alternative, as sodium is abundant and cheaper. However, the technology is mostly being pursued in China. Sodium batteries have advantages, including the ability to use plentiful and uncontroversial materials such as iron and manganese. Their main disadvantage is starting late compared to lithium-ion batteries. Nevertheless, with substantial green industrial subsidies, the US and EU could support the development of sodium batteries.
https://www.economist.com/leaders/2023/10/26/sodium-batteries-offer-an-alternative-to-tricky-lithium