Sunrise Secures $960,000 Grant for Breakthrough Sodium-Ion Battery Anode Project

Rhea-AI Summary

Sunrise New Energy (NASDAQ: EPOW) has secured a $960,000 science and technology grant from the Guizhou Provincial Department of Science and Technology for its innovative sodium-ion battery anode project. The company's project, focused on developing long-life, low-cost sodium-ion battery hard carbon anode materials, was selected after multiple expert panel reviews.

The company's proprietary hard carbon anode technology demonstrates impressive performance metrics, including ≥90% initial Coulombic efficiency and ≥85% capacity retention after 1,000 cycles. This technology aims to overcome current limitations in commercializing suitable anode materials for sodium-ion batteries, which are particularly valuable for large-scale energy storage systems and EVs in colder regions.

Notably, Sunrise's project is the only anode materials initiative in Guizhou Province to receive this grant.

Positive

• Secured $960,000 government grant funding
• Superior technical metrics: ≥90% initial Coulombic efficiency
• Strong durability with ≥85% capacity retention after 1,000 cycles
• Only anode materials project selected in Guizhou Province

Negative

• None.

Insights

Battery Technology Specialist

Sunrise's grant for sodium-ion anode tech addresses key barriers with promising performance metrics, establishing market position in emerging energy storage alternatives.

The $960,000 grant awarded to Sunrise represents significant external validation for their sodium-ion battery anode technology. This funding specifically targets a critical bottleneck in sodium-ion battery commercialization - the hard carbon anode materials that have industrial adoption despite the technology's inherent advantages.

The performance metrics cited in their research are particularly noteworthy: initial Coulombic efficiency of ≥90% and capacity retention of ≥85% after 1,000 cycles. These figures indicate substantial progress in addressing the durability and efficiency challenges that have historically plagued sodium-ion battery development.

Sodium-ion technology offers compelling advantages over traditional lithium-ion batteries in two specific applications mentioned in the article: large-scale energy storage systems and electric vehicles operating in colder northern regions. The superior low-temperature performance addresses a significant limitation of lithium-ion batteries, which typically suffer capacity degradation in cold conditions.

Being selected as the only anode materials initiative in Guizhou Province to receive this grant after multiple expert panel reviews indicates their technology has demonstrated measurable advantages over competing approaches. This positions Sunrise at the technological forefront of what could become a significant market segment in the broader energy storage ecosystem.

Financial Analyst

$960K grant provides non-dilutive R&D funding equaling ~3.7% of Sunrise's market cap, validating their technology diversification into emerging sodium-ion market.

This $960,000 grant represents meaningful non-dilutive funding for Sunrise New Energy, constituting approximately 3.7% of the company's $26 million market capitalization. For a company trading at $1 per share, securing government funding provides both capital resources and important third-party validation of their technological approach.

Strategically, this grant supports Sunrise's diversification beyond traditional lithium-ion battery materials into the emerging sodium-ion battery sector. This two-pronged approach positions the company to participate in both the established lithium-ion market and the developing sodium-ion space, potentially creating multiple revenue opportunities.

The funding specifically targets commercialization barriers for sodium-ion technology, addressing market entry challenges that have industrial adoption. The Guizhou Provincial Department of Science and Technology's selection process, involving multiple rounds of expert review, provides credible validation of Sunrise's technical capabilities in this specialized field.

From a market perspective, the application areas highlighted - large-scale energy storage and cold-weather EVs - represent substantial growth opportunities. Fixed energy storage infrastructure, in particular, is expanding rapidly alongside renewable energy deployment, creating potential long-term demand for cost-effective battery solutions like sodium-ion technology.

ZIBO, China, April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sunrise New Energy Co., Ltd. (“Sunrise”, the “Company”, “we” or “our”) (NASDAQ: EPOW), a leading innovator in battery materials, today announced that the company-led project titled “Research and Demonstration of Key Engineering Technologies for Long-Life, Low-Cost Sodium-Ion Battery Hard Carbon Anode Materials” has officially been approved by the Guizhou Provincial Department of Science and Technology following multiple rounds of expert panel reviews. The project has secured approximately $960,000 funding under a special science and technology grant.

Sodium-ion batteries are gaining attention for their cost-efficiency and superior low-temperature performance, making them particularly suitable for large-scale energy storage systems and electric vehicles (EVs) in colder northern regions. However, industrial-scale adoption has been hampered by limitations in the commercialization of suitable anode materials.

Sunrise’s proprietary hard carbon anode technology is at the forefront of the industry, with performance metrics including an initial Coulombic efficiency of ≥90% and a capacity retention rate of ≥85% after 1,000 cycles. These advancements are expected to resolve critical bottlenecks in sodium-ion battery development and accelerate the deployment of fixed energy storage infrastructures.

Sunrise’s project is the only anode materials initiative in Guizhou Province to receive this grant, as published on the official website of the Guizhou Department of Science and Technology.

“We are thrilled to pioneer innovation in long-life, low-cost sodium-ion battery materials,” said Mr. Haiping Hu, CEO of Sunrise. “This milestone not only reinforces our leadership in lithium-ion battery materials but also establishes Sunrise as a benchmark for technological innovation in the emerging sodium-ion battery sector.”

About Sunrise New Energy Co., Ltd

Headquartered in Zibo, Shandong Province, China, Sunrise New Energy Co., Ltd., through its joint venture, is engaged in the manufacturing and sale of graphite anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The Company's joint venture has completed the construction of a manufacturing facility with a production capacity of 50,000 tons in Guizhou Province, China. The plant runs on inexpensive electricity from renewable sources, which helps to make Sunrise New Energy a low-cost and low–environmental-impact producer of graphite anode material. Mr. Haiping Hu, the founder and CEO of the Company, is a major pioneer for the graphite anode industry in China starting from 1999. The Company’s management team is also composed of experts with years of experiences and strong track-records of success in the graphite anode industry. In addition, the Company also operates a knowledge sharing platform in China. For further information, please visit the Company’s website at www.sunrisenewenergy.com.

Forward-looking statement

Certain statements in this press release regarding the Company's future expectations, plans and prospects constitute forward-looking statements as defined by Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements about plans, goals, objectives, strategies, future events, expected results, assumptions and any other factual statements that have not occurred. Any words that refer to "may", "will", "want", "should", "believe", "expect", "expect", "estimate", "estimate" or similar non-factual words, shall be regarded as forward-looking statements. Due to various factors, the actual results may differ materially from the historical results or the contents expressed in these forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the company's strategic objectives, the company's future plans, market demand and user acceptance of the company's products or services, technological updates, economic trends, the company's reputation and brand, the impact of industry competition and bidding, relevant policies and regulations, the ups and downs of China's macroeconomic conditions, the relevant international market conditions, and other related risks and assumptions disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F published on the SEC’s website. In view of the above and other related reasons, we urge investors to visit the SEC’s website and consider other factors that may affect the Company's future operating results. The Company is under no obligation to make public amendments to changes in these forward-looking statements unless required by law.

For more information, please contact:

The Company:

IR Department

Email: IR@sunrisenewenergy.com

Phone: +86 4009919228

FAQ

What is the value of the grant received by Sunrise New Energy (EPOW) for sodium-ion battery development?

Sunrise New Energy (EPOW) received a $960,000 science and technology grant from the Guizhou Provincial Department of Science and Technology.

What are the performance metrics of EPOW's sodium-ion battery anode technology?

The technology achieves ≥90% initial Coulombic efficiency and ≥85% capacity retention rate after 1,000 cycles.

What are the main applications for EPOW's sodium-ion battery technology?

The technology is particularly suitable for large-scale energy storage systems and electric vehicles operating in colder northern regions.

How unique is Sunrise's (EPOW) grant achievement in Guizhou Province?

Sunrise's project is the only anode materials initiative in Guizhou Province to receive this specific grant.

What technical challenge does EPOW's sodium-ion battery project address?

The project addresses the limitation in commercializing suitable anode materials for sodium-ion batteries, which has been a key barrier to industrial-scale adoption.