German startup wins grant for grid-charging sodium-ion home battery
A German startup secured €264,200 in state and EU funding to develop a sodium-ion home battery that charges from the grid during low-price periods and discharges when prices rise, targeting small rental apartments without solar panels.
Revolta AG, a Frankfurt-based startup, has received €264,200 in co-financing from the German state of Hesse under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for its "Highly Efficient AC Salt Battery" project. The initiative focuses on creating a sodium-ion alternating current (AC) battery designed for residential use, enabling direct grid connection. The system charges during periods of low electricity prices and grid fees, then feeds power back into the home when prices are higher, offering potential cost savings for tenants.
The project targets smaller rental apartments that lack their own photovoltaic (PV) systems and have historically had limited options for battery storage. Revolta’s sodium-ion cells eliminate the need for lithium or cobalt, addressing supply chain concerns while providing a grid-charging solution. The ERDF funding covers 40% of the project’s eligible costs, totaling €660,545, with the initiative running from August 1, 2026, to December 31, 2029.
Revolta previously launched a high-voltage sodium-ion home battery for households with PV systems in July, demonstrating its expertise in sodium-ion technology. Additionally, the company holds a separate €124,940 grant from Germany’s Federal Environmental Foundation for an AC battery project scheduled from September 2025 to September 2027. These developments reflect a growing focus on sodium-ion solutions in Germany’s energy storage sector.
The business case for grid-charging home batteries in Germany improved significantly on October 1, when the country’s grid regulator introduced rules allowing storage systems to draw power from the grid and return it later with reduced levies and grid fees. These rules apply even to storage systems without their own power generation, creating a more favorable environment for innovations like Revolta’s AC sodium-ion battery.