Sustainable Batteries from Wood Industry By-Products: The Thuringian Forest Battery

Introduction

Researchers in Thuringia, Germany work on sustainable energy. They use lignin—a by-product of wood and pulp—to build a sodium-ion battery. The project, ThüNaBsE, uses lignin from the wood industry. It aims to produce batteries that are cost-effective, efficient, and kind to nature. The battery reduces the need for materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel.

Key Innovations

Utilization of Lignin for Hard Carbon Electrodes

Lignin gives wood its strength. The paper industry burns lignin for energy. Fraunhofer IKTS and Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena researchers change lignin into hard carbon. They do this under inert conditions. Hard carbon stores sodium effectively. It shows high performance, strong cycling stability, and low production costs.

Environmentally Friendly Materials

The project avoids harmful chemicals like fluorine. For the cathode, Prussian Blue analogs are used. These are safe iron compounds with good sodium storage. The materials are abundant and eco-friendly. They help keep energy storage efficient.

Project Collaboration and Goals

ThüNaBsE gets funding from the Free State of Thuringia and the European Social Fund. Regional companies like Mercer Rosenthal GmbH, Glatt Ingenieurtechnik GmbH, IBU-tec advanced materials AG, and EAS Batteries GmbH join the project. Petrochemical Holding GmbH from Vienna also supports it. The goals are simple:

• Build a full-cell sodium-ion battery with a 1-Ah capacity.
• Use local value chains and improve industry ties.
• Train junior researchers in energy and battery tech.
• Make battery production sustainable and low-impact.

Current Progress and Future Outlook

Prototype sodium-ion cells are under construction. They are tested at Fraunhofer IKTS’s battery test center in Arnstadt near the Thuringian Forest. This approach turns wood by-products into quality battery material. Lignin-based sodium-ion batteries offer a path toward safer, affordable, and green energy storage.

Sources: Fraunhofer IKTS, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, ThüNaBsE Project Reports (2025)

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