Bihar and NX Put a Price on Europe's Future

NX Technologies and Bihar Batteries partner to commercialise sodium-ion storage in Europe, cutting BMS costs by around 30%

16 Jun 2026

NX Technologies and Bihar Batteries have announced a partnership to bring sodium-ion stationary storage to commercial scale across Europe. Their jointly confirmed agreement establishes that NX's battery management system is already integrated into Bihar's working prototypes, a development that moves the technology closer to market.

The BMS is central to the commercial argument. Built to automotive-grade standards, it incorporates advanced sensors, pyrotechnic fuses for safety, and cell-monitoring architecture covering up to 18 cells in series. No European BMS has previously achieved that monitoring range. The result is a cost reduction of roughly 30% against comparable solutions currently available.

Bihar plans to begin product sales before the end of 2026. Backing from the Basque Government, the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council, and Spain's PERTE renewable energy programme is expected to support its first pilot production plant. That combination of institutional funding and a defined sales timeline positions Bihar as an early mover in European sodium-ion manufacturing.

The commercial case for sodium-ion has grown steadily. Stationary storage projects face persistent pressure to cut costs, and the chemistry offers distinct raw-material advantages over lithium-based alternatives. Pairing it with a cost-optimised, safety-rated BMS addresses one of the more stubborn barriers to deployment.

Analysts expect sodium-ion installations across the continent to accelerate once Bihar's pilot plant reaches capacity, offering a replicable model for other regional manufacturers considering the technology. The broader question is whether Europe's policy environment will move quickly enough to support a domestic supply chain that is, for the first time, beginning to take shape.