Natron Energy Ceases Operations, Halting $1.4 Billion Battery Plant in Edgecombe County

Natron Energy, a California-based leader in sodium-ion battery technology, has ceased operations as of Wednesday, September 3, 2025, citing insurmountable financial challenges.

 

This abrupt closure halts the company's ambitious plans to establish a $1.4 billion manufacturing facility in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, which was projected to create over 1,000 jobs.

 

In an internal memo to employees, the company expressed deep regret: "We appreciate our customers and partners' support through our journey, and this is not how we or anyone at Natron wanted this to end."

 

The memo further stated that operations would discontinue due to financial difficulties, and a small team would be retained solely to manage the shutdown process responsibly.

 

All commercial activities have been terminated, and the company is unable to fulfill any current or future orders.

 

Approximately 95 employees, including 37 at the Holland, Michigan plant and the remainder in Santa Clara, California, received Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notices dated August 28, indicating the cessation of operations on September 3.

 

The filing revealed that Natron's board determined on August 27 that efforts to secure sufficient new funding were unsuccessful, failing to cover the necessary working capital and operational expenses required to support execution of any purchase orders.

 

Natron's sodium-ion batteries were the only UL-listed products of their kind on the market, offering advantages over traditional lithium-ion batteries, including higher power density, faster recharge times, and enhanced safety features.

 

These batteries were intended for use in markets such as data centers, electric vehicle fast charging, microgrids, and telecommunications.

 

In August 2024, Natron announced plans to build the $1.4 billion factory at the Kingsboro CSX Select Megasite near Rocky Mount, aiming to create 1,000 jobs with an average salary of $64,071, exceeding Edgecombe County's average wage of $43,183.

 

The state had awarded the company a $21.7 million Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) for a 12-year term and $30 million from the North Carolina Megasite Readiness Program for on-site preparation, with expectations that the project would boost the state's economy by $3.4 billion.

 

According to the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, Natron was the first recipient of Megasite Readiness Program funds.

 

Notably, none of these funds had been distributed prior to the company's closure.

 

This marks the second major setback for the Kingsboro Megasite in recent years.

 

In 2017, Chinese-owned Triangle Tyre announced plans for a tire manufacturing operation at the site, promising 800 jobs and a $580 million investment.

 

However, the company withdrew from the project in May 2022.

 

Reports indicate that Natron Energy had been facing financial issues for several months.

 

The company's proposed $1.4 billion investment was also the fifth-largest corporate investment in North Carolina from July 2023 to June 2025, with Amazon Web Services topping the list at $10 billion.

 

JDIG grants have faced challenges in the state, with several companies failing to meet their commitments despite the incentives provided.

 

For instance, in July, clinical trial lab services provider Q2 Solutions announced it couldn't fulfill its agreement to create 750 jobs over seven years and invest $84 million, leading to the termination of two separate JDIG agreements from November 2019.

 

Edgecombe County officials have begun reaching out to other interested parties for the Kingsboro site, expressing hope that the location's attributes will attract new investment.

 

County Manager Eric Evans stated, "While I am disappointed for Edgecombe County, I am also mindful of the former employees at Natron, who now find themselves out of work."

 

He added that the county is contacting businesses interested in the Kingsboro site to inform them that it is once again available.

 

Evans expressed optimism that, given the current interest in data center development and battery component manufacturing, the site will attract new investment.

 

He emphasized the county's commitment to supporting economic development and job creation in the region.

 

As the community grapples with this setback, local leaders remain hopeful that the Kingsboro Megasite will soon find a new tenant to bring jobs and economic growth to Edgecombe County.