Singapore Battery Consortium: 2021 Q3 Lux Newsletter

Solid-State Batteries

adminastar — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 06:12:11 +0000

Solid-State Batteries adminastar Tue, 10/19/2021 - 14:12

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Sila Nanotechnologies to integrate its silicon anode materials in Whoop's fitness wearable

adminastar — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 06:02:04 +0000

Sila Nanotechnologies to integrate its silicon anode materials in Whoop's fitness wearable adminastar Thu, 09/23/2021 - 14:02

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Energy Storage

WHOOP 4.0, a health and fitness wearable by Whoop, will use the silicon anode materials developed by Sila Nanotechnologies. Although Sila has secured partnerships with BMW, Daimler, and Amperex, its primary target has been consumer electronics applications. This can be viewed as a major development in the utilization of next-generation chemistry in commercial products, and Sila's roadmap toward commercialization is on track with the integration of anode materials. Although key issues like swelling still persist in silicon anodes, clients should regard this is as an important milestone and recognize that the timelines will be similar for the commercialization of silicon anodes for EVs.

StoreDot announces fast-charging silicon-dominant 4680 cylindrical cell prototype

adminastar — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 06:01:10 +0000

StoreDot announces fast-charging silicon-dominant 4680 cylindrical cell prototype adminastar Thu, 09/23/2021 - 14:01

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Energy Storage

StoreDot claims to have demonstrated a 4680 form factor prototype that can charge in 10 minutes. The prototype, which is currently undergoing a scale-up process at EVE Energy, has been a form factor favored by Tesla. StoreDot's XFC technology aims to reduce the charging time by replacing graphite with silicon, and it has filed for a patent on introducing the "Booster" function, which the company claims is key for its fast charging technology. However, we do not view this as a significant development, as the chemistry of the battery has not changed, and StoreDot has not disclosed any performance metrics related to the prototype.

LG Energy Solution fully acquires NEC Energy Solutions

adminastar — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 06:00:12 +0000

LG Energy Solution fully acquires NEC Energy Solutions adminastar Thu, 09/16/2021 - 14:00

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Energy Storage

The acquisition will provide a foothold for LG Energy Solution (LGES) in the U.S. energy storage market and will give the company further control over its ESS battery product. Recently, LGES batteries at the 300 MW Moss Landing project overheated, though no fire was reported. With the safety of Li-ion ESS becoming a larger concern as system sizes expand, battery analytics becomes a necessary safety mechanism. NEC has both the software and the experience to help LGES become a safer technology provider. Notably, LGES has historically only made nickel-based cell chemistries, while NEC primarily used LFP.

Sicona raises $2.7 million to scale up its silicon-graphite anode production

adminastar — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 05:57:52 +0000

Sicona raises $2.7 million to scale up its silicon-graphite anode production adminastar Mon, 09/13/2021 - 13:57

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Energy Storage

Artesian and Riverstone Ventures led the round, along with Chaos Ventures, Bandera Capital, and SDGx Ventures, among others. The funding follows the company's successful $1 million seed round in July 2020 and a $704,000 grant by the Australian government in late 2020. Sicona is currently developing silicon-graphite composite anodes and is looking at deploying commercial-scale production plants in Europe and North America. In a crowded silicon-anode market segment, the company has managed to raise funds and test its anodes, with metrics comparable to startups like Volt14 Solutions. Clients should recognize that Sicona is an early-stage company and monitor its roadmap toward pilot manufacturing and commercial deployment.

South Korea to invest $41 billion to compete in the electric vehicle space

adminastar — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 05:56:44 +0000

South Korea to invest $41 billion to compete in the electric vehicle space adminastar Thu, 09/09/2021 - 13:56

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Energy for Mobility

South Korea will invest $41 billion to boost the electric vehicle market by the end of the decade. The announcement follows after Korea's battery manufacturers reported positive performance in 2020. The trio of LG Energy Solution, SK Innovation, and Samsung SDI are planning to invest in research and development and have planned to develop a battery technology training institute by 2023. Moreover, the cell manufacturers aim to make Korea a major hub lest other groups encroach on their market share. Clients should expect competition to intensify as battery demand increases and the market continues to expand globally.

Redwood Materials raises $700 million to finance its battery recycling expansion

adminastar — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 05:54:56 +0000

Redwood Materials raises $700 million to finance its battery recycling expansion adminastar Thu, 09/09/2021 - 13:54

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Energy Storage

In 2019, Redwood Materials partnered with Panasonic to recycle nearly 3 GWh/year of battery scrap. In early 2021, Redwood announced its second customer, Envision AESC, to recycle manufacturing scrap and supply the recovered materials back to AESC. Redwood's recent funding will provide the necessary capital injection to expand its recycling capacity, hire personnel (it plans to grow from 150 to 600 employees), and scale its technology to reduce the overall cost of recycling. Clients interested in participating in the battery recycling value chain should look to companies like Redwood, Battery Resourcers, and Li-Cycle.

United Energy to roll out "Australia's largest community battery"

adminastar — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 05:53:57 +0000

United Energy to roll out "Australia's largest community battery" adminastar Mon, 09/06/2021 - 13:53

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Stationary Storage

The Electric Avenue program includes 40 30 kW batteries, which United Energy will mount on power poles along its distribution grid in Melbourne, Australia. The utility is implementing its own small-scale front-of-meter (FTM) distributed energy storage system, which can improve grid reliability and avoid costly investments to upgrade grid infrastructure in order to accommodate the growing number of residential rooftop solar installations. United Energy's Electric Avenue will allow taking care of utility needs first, unlike with behind-the-meter (BTM) systems, such as Sonnen's or Moixa's, that first intend to increase self-consumption of on-site generation and enable energy bill reductions.

Ambri raises $144 million for long-duration energy storage application

adminastar — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 05:52:34 +0000

Ambri raises $144 million for long-duration energy storage application adminastar Thu, 09/02/2021 - 13:52

Importance Level

Interest Area

Stationary Storage

Reliance New Energy Solar led the round, along with Paulson & Co., Bill Gates, and several other investors. The investment will support Ambri in commercializing its proprietary liquid-metal battery technology, with a goal to expand manufacturing capabilities across the globe. The company will develop calcium- and antimony-based electrodes. Although Ambri has continually missed its deadlines, it has managed to receive a significant amount of funding from the Indian company this round to support India's pursuit of nonlithium battery chemistries, as the country has no domestic lithium supply chain.

GAC demonstrates eight-minute charging with graphene-based batteries

adminastar — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 05:50:03 +0000

GAC demonstrates eight-minute charging with graphene-based batteries adminastar Fri, 08/27/2021 - 13:50

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Interest Area

Energy for Mobility

Following the company's claims of 6C charging during its graphene battery launch this year, GAC's technology day showcased its use in a vehicle. The upcoming GAC Aion V will come in two versions, one with a slower 3C charge (16 minutes from 0% to 80%) and another with a faster 6C charge (eight minutes from 0% to 80%). Though this is an impressive technical feat, the required 500 kW of power is more than existing fast chargers can supply, and the company announced it would be building its own network with 100 stations this year. It also didn't provide useful details on cycle life, which is likely poor with frequent fast charging at this speed.