by Alicia Bennett | Nov 21, 2023 | Battery Chemistry & Production, Joint Venture & Acquisition
Swedish battery manufacturer, Northvolt, has announced a move into sodium-ion technology. The company has announced it has validated a sodium-ion battery with an energy density of 160Wh/kg developed with its research partner Altris. It indicated the technology will be used for battery energy storage systems (BESS) rather than electric vehicles. Peter Carlsson, CEO and Co-Founder of Northvolt estimated that in ten years’ time the order book for the technology could equal or exceed the size of its automotive orders that currently stand at circa USD55 billion. The progressive battery chemistry does not use lithium, nickel, cobalt or graphite, allowing Northvolt to have a more Eurocentric supply chain, reducing dependence on China. Instead, the batteries will use a hard carbon anode and a Prussian White-based cathode.
The Use of Sodium-ion in Energy Storage
Sodium-ion offers a cost-effective alternative to lithium-ion technology. Apart from substituting lithium with more abundant sodium, this cell chemistry eliminates the need for expensive copper current collectors, as aluminum can serve for both positive and negative electrodes.
However, the success of sodium-ion in energy storage hinges on the chemistries it will compete against. Lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) chemistries currently dominate the energy storage market, making up over 75% of installed BESS capacity YTD. Within China, battery producers such as CATL currently focus on LFP for energy storage. LFP prices are currently low and have well established supply chains which may erode the ability of sodium-ion technology to successfully enter the market.
An area where sodium ion has an edge compared to LFP is on temperature. It has a wide operational temperature range, giving safety and stability at high temperatures whilst also retaining function at low temperatures. This can allow energy storage to be installed in remote or colder environments potentially removing the need for temperature control within the energy storage units.
A Breakthrough for Energy Storage Battery Chemistry
This makes Northvolt one of the first non-Chinese players to have a sodium-ion product validated for energy storage. Currently, Natron Energy in the US is the only other player to use sodium-ion technology in BESS, however it has a low energy density (20-30Wh/kg) with limited uses.
Additionally, the use of a Prussian White-based cathode, a type of Prussian Blue Analogue (PBA), would be the first commercialisation of this technology in a sodium-ion cell. PBAs are thought of as a better cathode material option for sodium-ion than the conventionally used layered oxides. They do not contain key metals such as nickel, cobalt or manganese, only containing iron, sodium, carbon and nitrogen. This makes them potentially cheaper to manufacture, as well as giving it greater structural stability. Additionally, it improves the safety of the battery and extends the life cycle. These are two crucial properties when considering a battery for energy storage.
The Sodium-ion Market
The sodium-ion market has progressed further in China than elsewhere, with multiple Chinese players either offering sodium-ion products or in the final stages of testing. The market was ignited as lithium carbonate prices increased at the end of 2021 and remained high throughout 2022. This led to renewed research into alternative cheaper battery chemistries such as sodium-ion.
Leading players within the Sodium-ion space include Hi-Na, CATL and Farasis. Hi-Na has deployed its sodium-ion technology into a megawatt-hour level BESS, as well as completing on-vehicle testing. CATL produces a sodium-ion LFP hybrid for an EV and is conducting research into sodium-ion BESS. Additionally, Farasis has completed on-vehicle testing for its sodium ion battery.
Northvolt
Northvolt is among a handful of players leading the way for a European grown battery industry, with first shipments from its Ett Plant in 2022. It has also established itself as an energy storage integrator, with a facility in Poland expected to start production by the end of 2023. Considering Northvolt’s position it is well set to expand a sodium-ion cell business, being able to supply a fully integrated energy storage solution, as well as supply cells to other integrators.
Peter Carlsson, CEO and Co-Founder of Northvolt, comments: “The world has put high hopes on sodium-ion, and I’m very pleased to say that we’ve developed a technology that will enable its widespread deployment to accelerate the energy transition. It’s an important milestone for Northvolt’s market proposition, but battery technology like this is also crucial to reach global sustainability goals, by making electrification more cost-efficient, sustainable and accessible worldwide.”
Rho’s Evaluation
The potential for this technology is huge…
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by Christian | Nov 1, 2023 | Battery Chemistry & Production
On the 30th of October, Greater Bay Technology put into operation its battery manufacturing plant in Nansha, Guangzhou, China. The plant will mass produce the company’s Ultra-fast and eXtreme-Fast-Charging batteries, making it the world’s first large scale ultra-fast charging battery manufacturing plant. This first phase of construction began in 2022, at a cost of RMB2.5 billion (USD340 million).
Mass Producing of Ultra-fast Charging and XFC Batteries
This initial phase of the plant has a capacity of 4GWh. However, the company has planned a second phase that would bring total capacity up to 8GWh, and a total investment of RMB4 billion (USD550 million). On site, the factory is accompanied by an R&D centre, and a customer qualification plant designed to test new materials for large-scale production.
The Ultra-fast charging and the eXtreme-Fast-Charging batteries have a 4C and 6C rating respectively. The C rating of a battery refers to a battery’s charge and discharge rate. 4C is defined as 0-80% charge in 10-15 minutes, whilst 6C is 0-80% charging that takes less than 10 minutes.
A GAC Business
Established in 2020, Greater Bay Technology is backed by the GAC Group which hold a 35% share in the company. In 2021, its eXtreme-Fast-Charging battery, 6C rate version, was included in GAC’s Aion V Plus, with a charging time of circa 7.5 minutes 0-80%. In addition to GAC’s customer base, Greater Bay Technology also supplies Skyworth, Thalys, Dongfeng Heavy Truck, and West China Telecom. Its eXtreme-Fast-Charging 6C battery similarly is in the , and Skyworth EV6. Furthermore, it has recently developed the Phoenix Battery, an 8C battery capable of 0%-80% charging in six minutes.
Greater Bay Technology has a planned total production capacity of 120GWh by 2025. This will be achieved with five bases in China and a total investment of RMB30 billion (USD4.1 billion).
Rho’s Evaluation
This recent announcement marks another significant step in the ongoing evolution EV industry. By 2030, we expect…
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Sources: QCTT
by Christian | Oct 13, 2023 | Battery Chemistry & Production
Kia announced on the 9th of October it had signed a multistakeholder memorandum of understanding (MoU) for an EV battery recycling partnership. The partnership aims to form a pilot project to create a circular battery ecosystem. The partners include Eva Cycle, Ecopro, Hyundai Glovis, North Gyeongsang Provincial Government and Gyeongbuk Technopark.
A Vertical Partnership
Kia will manage the project as well as providing the batteries for feedstock. Eva Cycle will receive the batteries for dismantlement and black mass creation. Ecopro will then extract critical minerals to produce cathode materials. North Gyeongsang Provincial Government and Gyeongbuk Technopark will engage in regulatory matters and aim at creating an accommodating environment for technology development. Alongside this, Hyundai Glovis will assess the economic viability of the battery recycling industry as a whole.
The inclusive scheme, involving battery industry stakeholders from manufacturers to recycling companies and local governments, offers a holistic solution. Moreover, the project focuses on stringent standards for assessing battery residual value. This approach will enable realistic analysis of recycling feasibility and new business prospects.
Rho’s Evaluation
This announcement comes after…
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Sources: KiaPressOffice
by Christian | Oct 11, 2023 | Battery Chemistry & Production
On the 4th of October Aqua Metals and 6K Energy announced they had signed a multi-part memorandum of understanding (MoU). The pair plan to create a circular supply chain in the US for critical minerals needed in domestic lithium battery manufacturing. They intend to build a co-located facility at 6K Energy’s PlusCAM™ site in Jackson, Tennessee.
A Co-located Facility
Under the MoU, they will use 6K Energy’s PlusCAM™ site in Jackson, Tennessee that is currently under construction to create the co-located facility. It will contain a full-scale lithium battery recycling facility run by Aqua Metals. This will then supply 6K Energy’s PlusCAM™ cathode manufacturing plant.
The plant will use Aqua Metals’ Li AquaRefining™ recycling technology, and 6K Energy’s commercial UniMelt® CAM manufacturing process. Using these technologies, the pair hopes to run a facility that produces significantly fewer emissions and has lower capital and operational costs.
Aqua Metals will use a feedstock from domestically sourced end-of-life batteries and scrap materials from manufacturing partners. Under the terms of the MoU, it will supply…
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by Christian | Oct 9, 2023 | Battery Chemistry & Production
Foxconn and Blue Solutions have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) along with Foxconn’s subsidiary SolidEdge Solution, to develop and produce batteries for two-wheeler vehicles. The partnership will co-develop the batteries using Blue Solution’s solid-state battery technology. Initially they will target the Indonesian market and will also collaborate on creating a surrounding solid-state ecosystem.
A Collaboration of Expertise
The partners will collaborate to develop and produce batteries for two-wheeler vehicles, pooling their expertise and resources. Specifically, the collaboration will utilise Blue Solution’s Gen4 technology and SolidEdge Solution’s battery materials. Initially targeting the Indonesian two-wheeler market. However, under the terms of the MoU, different versions of these battery systems could be modified for electric vehicles.
Foxconn is an electronic manufacturing company based in Taiwan. The iPhone assembler established SolidEdge Solution as a wholly owned subsidiary in 2021. SolidEdge Solution engages…
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by Christian | Oct 6, 2023 | Battery Chemistry & Production
Epsilon, an Indian battery materials manufacturer, is set to acquire Johnson Matthey’s lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode technology centre in Germany. The Cathode Active Material (CAM) research centre, in Moosburg, allows Epsilon to enter the cathode raw materials industry. This comes after Epsilon announced plans to increase production in India and expand into North America.
A Move to LFP
The Moosburg facility will provide technical expertise and a skilled workforce in the field of LFP chemistry. It has extensive capabilities in process and product development. This includes a customer qualification plant specifically designed to test new materials for large-scale production. The use of the existing infrastructure will help Epsilon accelerate technology development and scale-up time.
The acquisition comes in line with Epsilon’s eventual plans to cater for 100 GWh of battery demand. Previously focusing on anode material production, the addition of a CAM research facility will allow Epsilon to increase its market reach.
The financial details of the acquisition have not been disclosed.
Johnson Matthey sold a part of its battery materials business in May 2022 to the EV Metals Group as well as Nano One. Epsilon has now seemingly taken over the purchase of the Germany site. This sale is another…
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