Singapore Battery Consortium: 2021 Q1 Lux Newsletter

Next-Generation Li-ion Materials

adminastar — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 16:15:25 +0000

Next-Generation Li-ion Materials adminastar Tue, 03/30/2021 - 00:15

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NEXT-GENERATION LI-ION MATERIALS

Breaking down next-generation Li-ion batteries

Commercialization of innovative anode, electrolyte, and cathode materials will improve the specific capacity of Li-ion batteries, reduce pack costs, and increase the number of applications for electrification.

Silicon anodes: Many automotive Li-ion batteries today incorporate low amounts of silicon into their anodes, with a resulting silicon loading of less than 5%.

Metallic lithium anodes: Half of the value proposition for solid-state batteries is that they achieve double the energy density of incumbent Li-ion batteries by incorporating a metallic lithium anode.

Solid-state electrolytes: Unlike liquid electrolytes, solid electrolytes are nonflammable and more effective at preventing shorting, leading to improved safety – this is the other half of the solid-state battery value proposition.

High-nickel cathodes: While NCA cathodes have always had a high ratio of nickel to cobalt, NMC are trending in the same direction to improve capacity.

Other next-generation cathodes: Those include lithium/manganese NMC (LMR-NMC), lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries, and lithium-manganese-nickel-oxide (LMNO) cathodes, which provide specialized value over incumbents.

Integrated supply chains for reducing costs

To meet long-term Li-ion battery demand, both lithium and nickel producers will need to adopt innovative technologies for extracting high-quality chemicals quickly from low-quality and unconventional resources, such as clay-based lithium reserves and recycled end-of-life batteries.

For advanced anodes, integrated supply chains will be central to reducing costs. Silicon particles for silicon/graphite anodes cost approximately $100/kg today and is likely to fall in line with high-purity silicon used in the solar industry, but the supply chain to provide those particles cheaply and at scale needs to be built up.

Similarly, the supply chain for thin, high-purity lithium foil is seen as necessary to evenly plate lithium during charging of solid-state batteries. This presents significant opportunities for Li-ion battery recycling companies to supply battery-grade precursor materials cheaply without necessarily innovating battery chemistry themselves, thereby also playing a crucial role as new nickel refineries are brought online.

Advanced electrodes adoption unlikely to be universal

Heavy-duty applications that require long-cycle-life will not rely on nick-rich cathodes and lithium metal anodes. Instead, they will opt for low-nickel NMC or LFP and graphite. The lowest-cost option for electric buses and heavy-duty trucks will prioritize higher-cycle-life chemistries, even as the expense of higher cell costs and lower energy density. This market can be substantial, with fully electrification translating to a demand of more than 1 TWh.

Stationary energy storage will likewise be a heavy-duty application and choose “low-tech” battery materials over advanced electrodes. Li-ion has quickly rose in market share in stationary energy storage, largely as LFP in residential behind-the-meter applications and NMC 333 in utility applications. However, as application stacking demands greater utilization from energy storage installations and the required discharge durations increase, other technologies like flow batteries may edge out Li-ion batteries.

New mobility platforms need different Li-ion batteries

New modes of mobility enabled by autonomous vehicles will not only drastically increase vehicle utilization, but also require powertrains suited to the task. These vehicles will likely have much different requirements, as they will be in near-constant use, making longer cycle life and faster charging more important metrics than today.

Electric aviation places an emphasis on energy density and that will make it a leading market for advanced Li-ion batteries. This market will be a key driver for the commercialization of next-generation cathodes and lithium metal anodes. While a 550 Wh/kg LMRNC – lithium metal battery might reduce cell prices incrementally in the passenger battery electric vehicle segment, it is transformative for electric aviation. It could increase electric aircraft range from 200 miles to 500 miles – long enough to tap some of the busiest airline routes in the world. Aviation will be a beachhead market for advanced, high-energy electrodes.

Georgia Tech reports using metal infiltration technique for solid state battery production

adminastar — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 09:20:04 +0000

Georgia Tech reports using metal infiltration technique for solid state battery production adminastar Fri, 03/19/2021 - 17:20

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Energy Storage

Researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology have reported using the melt infiltration fabrication technology for all solid state lithium ion batteries (SSLBs) that can adopt the production of nonflammable ceramic electrolytes similar to batteries developed with conventional liquid electrolytes. The team has claimed that the technology uses solid state electrolytes with low melting points that can infiltrate into dense, thermally stable electrodes at a temperature of 300 C in a liquid state and then solidify during cooling. This patent pending fabrication process is expected to improve scalability but yet to be commercialized. Clients interested in SSBs are encouraged to monitor this development due to its low temperature approach.

Neoen secures planning approval for AU$3 billion wind solar storage project in South Australia

adminastar — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 09:17:49 +0000

Neoen secures planning approval for AU$3 billion wind solar storage project in South Australia adminastar Thu, 03/18/2021 - 17:17

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Stationary Storage

This project is part of the so called Goyder Renewable Zone a production site that French renewable energy developer Neoen is developing in the South of Goyder. When completed, this project is expected to install up to 1,200 MW of wind power, 600 MW of solar PV power, and 900 MW of battery capacity. Neoen plans to begin construction of the next phase, which will have a total capacity of 400 MW, in early 2022. This project adds to Neoen's renewable energy (expected to reach 10 GW by 2025) and storage pipeline and goes in line with South Australia's ambition to decarbonize its energy system and reach 100% renewables by 2030.

GM signs JDA with SolidEnergy, putting lithium metal anodes on its tech roadmap

adminastar — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 09:16:19 +0000

GM signs JDA with SolidEnergy, putting lithium metal anodes on its tech roadmap adminastar Tue, 03/16/2021 - 17:16

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Energy Storage

GM had previously invested in lithium metal anode developer SolidEnergy Systems (SES) through its venture capital arm, and this joint development agreement takes the partnership a step further. The two have already put cells through simulated drive cycles. In a vote of confidence, GM will now assist SES in building a "high capacity, pre production" manufacturing line due to be completed in 2023. Clients should note that these cells would likely be used to qualify cells for production, and assuming a two year qualification period would mean the earliest GM would be using SES technology would be 2025.

Northvolt expands to U.S. though acquisition of Cuberg

adminastar — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 09:13:51 +0000

Northvolt expands to U.S. though acquisition of Cuberg adminastar Fri, 03/12/2021 - 17:13

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Energy Storage

This marks the first major technology acquisition made by Northvolt, which historically manufactures conventional Li ion batteries with graphite anodes. The company was founded to build up a battery supply chain in Europe, using undifferentiated battery technology to get there. Now that it has established that supply chain, Northvolt is moving into technology innovation with its acquisition of Cuberg. The company is already working with numerous automakers and aviation companies for higher performing batteries. Northvolt's move to the U.S. will enable rapid entry into the innovation landscape and attract both the cleantech investors and technical talent needed to scale up Cuberg's battery technology.

VinFast and ProLogium announce JV to develop solid state battery packs in Vietnam

adminastar — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 09:11:56 +0000

VinFast and ProLogium announce JV to develop solid state battery packs in Vietnam adminastar Fri, 03/12/2021 - 17:11

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Energy for Mobility

VinFast has signed an MOU with Taiwanese battery manufacturer ProLogium (PLG) to accelerate the commercialization of solid state batteries (SSBs) for electric vehicles (EVs). This JV will help VinFast, Vietnam's first national car brand, gain priority for using PLG's SSB technology to produce battery packs in Vietnam. PLG will provide support by producing SSB inlays for VinFast in its expected 1 GWh to 2 GWh Asia manufacturing center, with an ambitious plan of mass producing EVs by 2024. Although PLG claims to have passed numerous safety tests in the EU and China, this partnership should not be viewed as evidence of SSB progress.

Battery Recycling startup Li Cycle valued at $1.67 billion after IPO through SPAC

adminastar — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 09:10:12 +0000

Battery Recycling startup Li Cycle valued at $1.67 billion after IPO through SPAC adminastar Fri, 03/12/2021 - 17:10

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Energy Storage

Li-Cycle completed its IPO, raising $615 million through a SPAC led by Peridot and PIPE investors including Neuberger Berman Group, Franklin Templeton, and Li Cycle's strategic partner Traxys . Li-Cycle now has a market valuation of $1.67 billion. It has patented both a mechanical and a hydrometallurgical method promising a 90% to 95% recycling rate. The company is now in its growth phase, where it builds four mechanical processing plants for every hydrometallurgical facility. This hub and spoke model is currently being showcased at its Rochester, New York, facility, which recycles 5,000 tons.

Be wary of hype around Blackstone “3D printed” battery technology

adminastar — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 09:07:04 +0000

Be wary of hype around Blackstone “3D printed” battery technology adminastar Thu, 03/11/2021 - 17:07

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Energy Storage

Blackstone's process appears to be more a matter of using screen printing to deposit electrode materials (and potentially other parts of the battery) than what most would usually regard as 3D printing. Thin film battery developers like Imprint Energy have explored similar printing processes, though Blackstone's use of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) in such a process is unique, and it claims the thicker electrodes it can produce thanks to this process offset LFP's usual energy density disadvantage and allow it to reach 220 Wh /kg cell energy density. Monitor the company's progress, but be wary of its claims of achieving such a figure in volume production by early 2022.

Hitachi ABB Power Grids to supply battery storage to Singapore’s first virtual power plant

adminastar — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 09:05:46 +0000

Hitachi ABB Power Grids to supply battery storage to Singapore’s first virtual power plant adminastar Fri, 03/05/2021 - 17:05

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Stationary Storage

This project has been jointly developed by Singapore's Energy Market Authority, Sembcorp, and Nanyang Technological University since 2019. Details about the expected aggregated storage capacity remain unknown, as Hitachi ABB Power Grids only confirmed that it plans to deploy its e-mesh platform a scalable microgrid and energy storage solution supported by digital control tools. This announcement is another sign of maturing energy prospects in Singapore, arising from the ongoing liberalization of the country's energy market. Markets undergoing liberalization are emerging hubs for innovation related to distributed energy resource management and business models.

Graphene battery to be mass produced by GAC Group in September

adminastar — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 09:03:05 +0000

Graphene battery to be mass produced by GAC Group in September adminastar Wed, 03/03/2021 - 17:03

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Interest Area

Energy Storage

China's GAC Group is in the final vehicle testing phase for its graphene based battery that can withstand up to 6C charge rates. Due to its high electron mobility and good rate performance, graphene has the potential to be a successful anode material. The cost to manufacture of graphene has been a barrier to mass production, and creating a 3D anode material has typically only been achieved at lab scale. While pure graphene batteries are unlikely to become the norm in Li ion batteries, this announcement indicates that innovations in carbon nanotechnology will become increasingly important for competing with silicon based anodes.