Sulfur Battery Tech Startup theion Secures €15 Million

Germany is moving to the forefront of battery technology, as Berlin-based theion today announced the successful closing of a €15 million Series-A funding round to accelerate the development of its next-generation crystal sulfur batteries.

The investment, led by Team Global, with participation from Geschwister Oetker Beteiligungen and Enpal, signals strong confidence in Germany’s ability to innovate and lead in energy storage solutions. The funding is also significant for the effort to derisk from dependence on the China controlled lithium ion battery market.

European Innovation to Compete with Global Battery Leaders

The crystal sulfur battery developed by theion is a breakthrough in energy storage, targeting:

• Three times higher energy density than conventional lithium-ion batteries
• One third of the cost, making it an economically competitive alternative
• One third of the carbon footprint, addressing sustainability challenges

Sulfur, the 16th most abundant on earth, contains significantly more energy per weight compared to today’s battery materials. This should theoretically enable future batteries based on it to be 3x lighter compared to current lithium-ion batteries. Leading scientists and experts agree on the potential of sulfur regarding weight saving. However, the limiting factor is cycle-life. To be economically viable, sulfur batteries need to reach over 1000 cycles.

theion’s proprietary technology is based on sulfur’s monoclinic gamma crystal structure. This crystal structure together with patented processes lay the ground for increasing the cycle life of the battery, one of the constraints of sulfur batteries.

It is expected that the worldwide demand for batteries across all industries will triple by 2030 to 8 TWh or EUR 500bn per year. Led by land mobility, the sector is projected to be worth EUR 340 bn, with the stationary energy storage sector valued at EUR 175 bn and air mobility at EUR 20 bn.

“We are thrilled to receive this investment from Team Global, Geschwister Oetker Beteiligungen and Enpal. This support will be invaluable in the delivery of this transformational technology”, Dr. Ulrich Ehmes, CEO of theion, stated, “Germany has a long-standing history of pioneering engineering and innovation. We are designing our crystal sulfur battery to position Europe as a leader in sustainable energy storage. There is still a way to go but our technology shall enable CO₂-neutral electric flights, extended EV range, and efficient stationary energy storage.”

Lukasz Gadowski, CEO and founder of Team Global, added: “I am in no doubt that crystal battery technology can revolutionize mobility and stationary energy storage, and theion is in the vanguard of this tech revolution. theion will help the world achieve new levels of safe, sustainable and cost-effective electrification. Not only can this cell chemistry slash costs for the automotive and mobility sectors, but it should also be a true enabler and catalyst for electrified aviation.”

Sven Wiszniewski, responsible for venture and growth capital investments at Geschwister Oetker Beteiligungen, added: “We see tremendous potential in theion’s technology to significantly improve battery performance while reducing reliance on critical raw materials. Our investment aligns with our vision of supporting groundbreaking innovations that drive a greener and more efficient energy future.”

 

A New Approach to Battery Production

 

theion’s patented crystal sulfur battery leverages sulfur, a widely available and cost-effective material, replacing nickel and cobalt, which are expensive and environmentally harmful to mine. This approach significantly reduces production costs and enhances supply chain resilience. Key advantages include:

• 99% cheaper cathode raw material costs compared to lithium-ion components.
• Less energy-intensive manufacturing, improving overall sustainability.
• Improved safety, addressing critical issues in battery performance.

Targeting Strategic Markets

The first markets for theion’s crystal battery include:

• Electric aviation and aerospace – Ideal for eVTOLs, fixed-wing aircraft, and satellites due to its lightweight and high energy density
• Electric vehicles (EVs) – Enabling extended range and reduced production costs
• Stationary energy storage – Increasing dramatically renewable energy integration with efficient and sustainable storage solutions