South Korean Government Prioritizes Support for Sodium-Ion and Solid-State Batteries

[SMM Analysis: Solid-State Battery Next Decade Series, 9 of 9: A Brand-New Track, Not a "Simple Sequel" to Liquid Lithium Batteries] The industrialisation of solid-state batteries is not a "capacity replication + minor technical adjustment" of liquid lithium batteries, but a systematic shift from resource logic, chemical logic, and material logic to patent logic. The most common mistake in understanding solid-state batteries through the framework of liquid lithium batteries is treating "planned capacity" as "effective supply," treating "technical routes" as "settled answers," and treating "first-mover advantage" as "ultimate victory.

Chunli New Energy's 1GWh solid-state battery manufacturing base in Hukou County, Jiangxi officially began production on Sep 29, moving its all-solid-state batteries from R&D to scaled manufacturing. At the launch summit, the company signed multiple GWh-level deals, including a 10GWh energy storage strategic partnership and a 1GWh storage equipment order, supply of 200,000 standardized battery-swap products, a RMB 300 million cooperation deal, and an overseas partnership to co-develop all-solid-state batteries for e-bikes.

[SMM Analysis: Solid-State Battery Industry Review During the National Day Holiday: Strong Policy Push but Slow Industrial Progress] During the National Day holiday, the solid-state battery sector showed a pattern of "hot policies, slow industry." The 15th Five-Year Plan from seven ministries targets full solid-state scale-up by 2030; Guoci's sulphide production line was completed, Chunli's GWh-class polymer line began production, a 100 GWh project was signed, and outside China, Samsung SDI/EcoPro cooperation and BMW real-vehicle validation moved forward. However, materials are seeing "rising volumes and falling prices," and moving from pilot to mass production still requires 2-3 years, with cost reduction, yield, and client validation remaining the three major hurdles yet to be overcome.