Berlin-based theion develops crystal sulfur battery tech, a game-changing alternative to lithium-ion
The innovation’s aim is the 3X reduction of battery cost and weight while significantly lowering CO2 footprint
Leading European investors support theion tech’s global deployment in aviation, automotive and energy storage
When, successful, the technology will generate a European export industry worth hundreds of billion Euros

BERLIN – 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. This funding shall strengthen Europe’s position in the battery market, offering a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to lithium-ion technology.

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

The element sulfur, the 16th most abundant on earth, contains significantly more energy per weight compared to today’s battery materials. This enables future batteries 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.

Europe can play a leading role in this multibillion battery business by using sulfur, an upcycled waste material with a resilient supply chain, making batteries affordable to everyone, and powering the energy transition on land, air and sea.

“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 European Breakthrough for a Sustainable Future

Chairman of theion, Dr. Gerhard Cromme emphasised: “Germany must take ownership of its battery supply chain. With this innovation, we are reducing dependency on imported raw materials and strengthening Europe’s technological sovereignty.”

Henning Rath, Co-founder and Managing Director of Enpal, stated: “Europe needs technology champions in the battery industry to drive the future of electrification. theion has the potential to disrupt this area with world-beating R&D capabilities, delivering huge value for renewable energy companies like Enpal.”

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

Strengthening Europe’s Battery Ecosystem

With this breakthrough, Germany is taking a significant step toward competing with global battery manufacturers, fostering a strong European ecosystem for advanced energy storage solutions.

ENDS

About theion GmbH

Headquartered in Berlin, Germany, theion develops crystal batteries for mobile, portable and stationary applications. By using sulfur, theion targets to store up to 3x more energy at one third of the cost in its batteries compared to today’s generations of batteries. theion’s proprietary production processes are very cost and energy efficient complementing the idea of creating a highly sustainable battery and powering the energy transition.

About Team Global

Team Global is a technology holding with offices in Berlin and Palo Alto; the company is founded and led by CEO Lukasz Gadowski. Team Global invests in frontier technology companies in the sectors of mobility, aerospace, energy and robotics across Asia, Europe and the USA. Notable portfolio companies include AutoFlight, Zapata, theion and MILES mobility.

About Geschwister Oetker Beteiligungen KG

With turnover of roughly EUR 2.5 billion and more than 8,300 employees, Geschwister Oetker Beteiligungen KG is an international group of companies owned by Alfred and Ferdinand Oetker. The Group comprises 146 individual companies in 35 countries. The Geschwister Oetker Beteiligungen Group operates in the following divisions: Sparkling Wine, Wine and Spirits (Henkell Freixenet), Bakery Food (Martin Braun-Gruppe), Specialty Chemicals (Budenheim); Hotels and Hotel Management (Oetker Collection) and Office Real Estate (Columbus Properties). Although Geschwister Oetker is a young company in the legal sense, it upholds a 130-year tradition of successful entrepreneurship. Its business practices are guided by the principle of responsibility as a family business that lives by its long-held values.

About Enpal

Enpal, the greentech unicorn in Germany, offers an integrated solution for renewable energy and is a pioneer in Germany’s energy transition. As a leading provider of solar and heat pump systems, the company has already integrated ca. 250,000 Distributed Energy Resources (DER) into the Enpal system. The PV system is part of an integrated energy ecosystem consisting of a battery storage system, an EV-charging station, a heat pump and the energy-trading-platform Enpal.One+. Founded in 2017, Enpal has digitised and revolutionised the purchase of green energy for a fossil-free home with its rental model and flexible, no-down-payment purchase option. More than 90,000 Enpal-equipped households already make up our climate-friendly renewable energy community. Enpal’s investors include some of the world’s largest impact and technology investors, such as TPG Rise Climate, The Westly Group, Activate Capital, Softbank Vision Fund II, Princeville Climate Technologies, HV Capital, Team Europe, and Picus Capital.