ErgoSolar to Open Mexico’s First Lithium, Sodium Battery Factory

Luis Stone, CEO and Founder, ErgoSolar, announced a US$10 million investment to establish Mexico’s first lithium and sodium battery factory, with potential locations being Puebla or Jalisco. This initiative represents a pivotal development for Mexico’s lithium industry, which had experienced stagnation due to regulatory reforms and reduced private investment activity.

The company has focused its investments on lithium-based battery production due to its energy storage capacity, despite higher costs and environmental considerations. At the same time, sodium-based batteries provide a complementary solution with greater availability and sustainability but require 50% more space for deployment. By utilizing both materials, the company aims to meet diverse energy storage needs while balancing efficiency, sustainability, and scalability across various applications. “While sodium batteries are impractical for devices like smartphones or computers, these are highly suitable for applications such as large-scale solar farms and telecommunications infrastructure.”

The primary market for these batteries spans industries requiring dependable backup systems, including metalworking, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, plastics, airports, hospitality, healthcare, and communication tower technologies. “Our technology, enhanced by AI, has drawn interest from international companies seeking to acquire it. However, our objective is to establish global leadership in this field. To achieve this, we are declining acquisition offers to focus on refining our capabilities. In three to four years, we expect to be in a significantly stronger position,” said Stone.

Regarding the recent regulations on lithium, Stone highlighted the significance of addressing a previously unregulated area. “It is remarkable that projects involving multi-million-dollar investments lacked a clear legal framework. This development represents a significant step forward for the industry,” he stated.

Lithium in Mexico

No timeline has been established for the start of lithium production, following the government’s decision to nationalize the metal and suspend projects, such as the Sonora Lithium project. However, strategic plans are being formulated. Víctor Rodríguez, CEO, PEMEX, announced that lithium-related projects will be developed in collaboration with CFE, employing a model that integrates social and private collaborations.

Oscar Ocampo, Energy and Environment Coordinator at the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO), identifies a key obstacle to the growth of Mexico's lithium industry: the limited public funding dedicated to its development and the minimal involvement of the private sector in the country's lithium supply chain. Despite these challenges, President Claudia Sheinbaum remains optimistic, expressing confidence that lithium production will begin under her administration, driving progress in the national economy.

"I believe the Sonora Plan is one of the most visionary projects, positioning Sonora at the forefront of national development. First, it focuses on decarbonizing the economy by enhancing solar energy. Second, it proposes an industrial policy linked to electromobility," she explained. “We will make Mexico a scientific and innovation powerhouse. By prioritizing local technological development and investing in research, Mexico has the opportunity to effectively harness its rich lithium resources.”