Currents Ep318: TDK Ventures on Emerging Energy Tech
Oct 2, 2025
Nicolas Sauvage, president of TDK Ventures and a corporate venture investor in energy and deep tech, dives into the future of energy storage. He discusses the advantages of sodium-ion batteries over lithium for grid applications. The conversation shifts to how AI-driven energy demand is creating investment opportunities in decarbonization tools. Nicolas also highlights the significance of recycling, lithium extraction, and green hydrogen. With insights on nuclear fusion, he outlines how geopolitical shifts influence energy investments and the importance of adaptable strategies for the future.
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Invest By Backcasting Multiple Futures
- TDK Ventures backcasts multiple plausible futures and invests for several outcomes rather than predicting one definitive future.
- This portfolio approach balances bets so some companies benefit when lithium is scarce and others when it is plentiful.
Grid Storage Prioritizes Different Metrics
- Grid-scale storage values metrics like temperature tolerance and cost more than energy density.
- Sodium-ion batteries align well with those grid requirements and potential lithium supply frictions.
Plan For A 3–5 Year Sodium‑Ion Ramp
- Expect sodium-ion to be a challenger technology requiring 3–5 years to approach competitive unit economics.
- Focus on scaling and matching early customers to reach cost parity without relying on subsidies.