Dear battery enthusiast,
Welcome to Battery Associates’ September Newsletter. We have summarised some of the month’s most relevant battery news, highlighting technology and research development, and updates from Battery Associates.
Battery Newsletter structure:
Battery Industry Highlights
B.A Editorial
Battery Insiders Podcast
Battery Associates’ Events & Updates
Battery Industry Highlights
In this section, we have summarised relevant battery news from the past month.
On September 20, 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced over USD 3 billion for 25 selected projects across 14 states to boost domestic production of advanced batteries and battery materials nationwide. The selected projects will retrofit, expand, and build new domestic facilities for battery-grade processed critical minerals, battery components, manufacturing, and recycling.
B.A Commentary: Through the Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing and Recycling Program, the DOE is facilitating a total investment of USD 16 billion focused on battery manufacturing, processing, and recycling. These initiatives are crucial to the clean energy industrial strategy, enhancing America’s energy security and economic competitiveness while creating over 6,000 operational jobs and more than 13,000 construction jobs nationwide. This latest investment builds on a previous funding round, in which the DOE allocated USD 1.82 billion to 14 projects by October 19, 2022.
On September 26, 2024, the Chilean government announced the selection of six sites for private companies to invest in lithium extraction. Codelco, Chile’s state-owned mining company, is overseeing the process to ensure state control over lithium resources. So far, 20 private companies have expressed interest in participating in these projects, highlighting the strong global demand for lithium.
B.A Commentary: In April 2023, the Chilean government announced its plan for the nationalisation of its lithium reserves. According to the announcement, any private company (domestic or foreign) must create a public-private partnership with Codelco, Chile’s state-owned mining company. The Chilean state-owned enterprise will hold the majority of the stake. This recent announcement is part of Chile's nationalisation strategy to enhance public and private partnerships in the lithium processing industry.
According to media reports, SK Innovation, a major South Korean battery manufacturer, reportedly plans to reduce its workforce as part of a restructuring effort amid declining demand for electric vehicle batteries. Sources indicate that the company may cut up to 1,500 jobs, focusing on improving efficiency and reducing costs. This decision comes as SK Innovation faces increased competition and market challenges in the EV sector. The company aims to streamline operations to better position itself for future growth.
B.A Commentary: SK On has yet to achieve profitability since its separation from SK Innovation in 2021. These measures come as SK On faces difficulties, including a record quarterly operating loss of $346.3 million for the April-June period, rising fixed costs from its new plant in Hungary, and decreased global EV demand. Now, SK On plans to leverage existing manufacturing capabilities by using the production line designated for Ford’s EVs at its Georgia plant to produce batteries for Hyundai and Kia EV models. While companies across the industry aim to cut costs, OEMs must balance immediate financial needs with strategies that promote resilience and sustainable development in a competitive market.
On September 06, Japan will provide additional subsidies for electric vehicle battery production, pledging up to $2.4 billion. The government will support 12 projects focused on storage batteries, as well as parts, materials, and production equipment, to reach a production capacity of 120 GWh by 2030. This latest round of support follows nearly $1 billion in subsidies granted for battery production in June last year and a first round of subsidies in April 2023.
B.A Commentary: As the US, China, and Europe implement substantial subsidies and incentives, the Japanese government has also announced a significant number of subsidies to remain competitive in the global automotive and battery landscape. Companies like Toyota, Panasonic, Nissan, and many more are included in this new subsidy scheme, with the aim to create a robust battery industry and innovation ecosystem and mitigate dependence on foreign imports. However, counterproductive to decarbonisation goals, the Japanese government resumed subsidies on gas and petrol in August 2024 to curb inflation.
On September 26, SAIC-GM and CATL claimed that they have jointly developed the world's fastest-charging LFP battery cell with a 6C charging rate. This 6C battery can provide a range of more than 200 kilometres with just a five-minute charge. According to the companies, the battery will be operational starting next year and integrated into Ultium's quasi-900V high-voltage battery architecture. Ultium is the core platform for GM's next-generation EVs, first announced in March 2020.
B.A Commentary: According to media reports, a 5.5C fast charging rate is currently used in the Chinese market. Now, SAIC-GM and CATL claim that their new LFP battery technology can charge at 6C, surpassing the existing fast charge rate in the market. According to SAIC-GM, they are making significant advancements in their Ultium system by next year, including the adoption of a new quasi-900V high-voltage architecture, a new CTP (cell-to-pack) structural design, and enhanced cooling technology.
B.A Editorial - Battery Day 2024
We are thrilled with the outcome of Battery Day 2024. The cutting-edge discussions and in-depth explorations that unfolded during our 12-hour event covered over 6 Panels, 8 Deep Dives, 4 Keynotes, and Networking Sessions. We take immense pride in the global reach of our gathering, with passionate battery aficionados hailing from 60+ countries. A huge thank you to our 45+ talented speakers and to Thermo Fisher Scientific, Creonia Cells, Engineering Industries eXcellence, ACCURE Battery Intelligence and FusionATG as our sponsors, with Shanghai Metals Market as a Knowledge Partner and Volta Foundation as our supporting partner.
Below are just a few takeaways from the insight-dense 12 hours! If you’d like to know more, the entire schedule of Battery Day can be found here, and you can purchase the recordings here to access 8+ hours of content.
In our first session of the day, Dr. Yingying Wang (Shenzhen Battery Industry Association), Cameron Dales (Peak Energy), and Hans Li (Miracle Eternal Pte., Ltd.) navigated us through the Pandora box of gigafactory risks. We learnt that scaling Na-ion battery production for stationary battery energy storage systems (BESS) is unlike that of Li-ion battery gigafactories built within the automotive pipeline. Companies can scale incrementally for BESS projects rather than make the massive all-or-nothing upfront investments required for automotive gigafactories. Design, process and equipment were cited as the factors that determine gigafactory success. Different chemistries also come with unique scaling challenges; LFP is easier to scale due to material availability and lower costs, while NCM offers higher energy density but is more complex to scale. China had more time to experiment and improve its processes between 2014-19, making process optimisation and automation more straightforward to implement. However, Europe and US now face intense time pressures and heightened competition, in the face of a lack of experienced workforce and high labour costs. Government policies like the IRA in the US and the new EU battery regulation are critical in shaping labour and production decisions.
Various exciting technological advances were covered in the panel with Jordi Sastre (QuantumScape), Robert Mitchell (CPI), Maithri Venkat (Lucid Motors), and Brandon Van Leer (Thermo Fisher Scientific). For lithium-ion batteries, nanostructured silicon-carbon composites are bringing higher energy densities without compromising anode integrity, and are enabling fast charging by reducing the risk of lithium metal plating. Strategies for improving cathode performance under fast charging conditions include nanostructuring of LFP, along with aluminium oxide coatings or niobium doping of NMC. Discussions on solid-state batteries covered the anode-less in-situ-forming lithium metal anode, which eliminates the need for expensive and complex foil handling processes. Ceramic-based solid electrolytes can minimise dendrite formation, increase the stability and safety of solid-state batteries, and open the door to new chemistries, including high-voltage and conversion cathodes. On the manufacturing front, AI, ML and big data analytics, coupled with automation and sensors, are taking production to the next level. Such integrated systems enable predictive quality control, facilitate slurry mixing and formulation optimisation, allow real-time monitoring and dynamically adjusting manufacturing parameters, and even predict future failures and battery state of charge.
These are just a few of the exciting developments discussed during Battery Day 2024. The final panel, on talent, diversity and culture, highlighted the most essential piece of the highly complex battery industry puzzle—people. We will need impactful leaders with comprehensive knowledge and multiple skill sets to implement effective policies, build strategic partnerships, and ensure sustainability and circularity. As a people-centric company, the outcome of this event has supercharged us to continue bringing value and knowledge to professionals of all backgrounds. We eagerly look forward to the coming year and interacting with many more of you for Battery Day 2025!
Battery Insiders Podcast
Battery Associates runs a monthly podcast called Battery Insiders, which covers the role of batteries for sustainable development and battery-relevant topics featuring a range of battery experts and enthusiasts. Our podcast also includes the recordings of the Battery Revolution Clubhouse sessions co-hosted live by Simon Engelke and Mariam Awara. Battery Insiders is hosted by Bhavya Jha and Dr. Simon Engelke. Talk on: Insights on Theion’s Lithium Sulfur Battery Technology
Speaker: Dr. Ing Ulrich Ehmes, Chief Executive Officer of theion GmbH
Session Summary: In this episode, Our guest speaker Dr. Ing Ulrich Ehmes discusses the promise of lithium-sulfur batteries developed by Theion. These batteries aim to achieve a carbon-neutral future by significantly increasing energy density to 1,000 Wh/kg while reducing costs by a factor of three and cutting CO2 emissions. Sulfur's abundance and low cost make it an attractive alternative to traditional materials like nickel and cobalt. The use of sulfur also simplifies the supply chain and production process, as it is readily available as a waste byproduct. Dr. Ehmes emphasises the need for Europe to adopt such disruptive technologies to remain competitive and address the energy demands of the future. Click on the image below to listen to the full conversation.
Talk on: Philippines' Vision for Green Energy & Battery Industry
Speaker: Glenn Penaranda, Commercial Counsellor at Philippine Trade & Investment Center
Session Summary: In this episode, Our guest speaker Glenn Penaranda, a representative from the Philippine Trade and Investment Center, discusses the Philippines' vision for its battery industry. The country aims to promote renewable energy and green mobility by leveraging its rich reserves of green metals, such as nickel and copper, which are essential for battery manufacturing. The government has removed tariffs on electric vehicles and charging stations to boost adoption and attract investments, especially from China. Additionally, they are encouraging partnerships with international companies to expand the mining and processing of battery materials locally. The Philippines has also introduced policies to simplify investment procedures and opened up the renewable energy sector to foreign investors, creating opportunities across the entire value chain. Click on the image below to listen to the full conversation.
Talk on: Australia's Role in the Battery Supply Chain: Challenges & Future
Speaker: Gloria Zhang, Director at Global Resource Connect Asia
Session Summary: In this episode of the Battery Insiders podcast, Gloria joins Simon live from China to discuss Australia's role in the global battery market. They explore the country's strong focus on upstream resource extraction, especially for critical minerals like lithium, nickel, and cobalt. Gloria highlights the challenges Australian companies face in securing investment and advancing technology for energy storage. They also dive into the growing trend of vertical integration, where downstream companies collaborate directly with upstream resource suppliers. Looking to the future, Gloria outlines the significant capital needed to meet global energy transition goals by 2050, emphasising the crucial role of government and international cooperation in the battery value chain. Click on the image below to listen to the full conversation.
Battery Associates' Events & Updates
Future Battery Forum
5 - 6 November 2024
In-Person | Berlin
Battery Associates is excited to partner with Future Battery Forum on 05-06th November in Berlin, which aims to bring together decision-makers from the entire value system of battery technologies: users, battery system & cell manufacturers, and their suppliers.
We are delighted to connect with fellow industry leaders and enthusiasts and engage in stimulating discussions at our company booth. Furthermore, Dr. Simon Engelke, Founder & Chair of Battery Associates will participate as a moderator.
Future Battery Forum will also be hosting the 2nd Women in Battery meetup during the first day of the event, which promises to be an insightful and enjoyable gathering, where women in the battery space will come together to share their experiences, network, and support each other.
BatteryMBA January 2025 Cohort |
BatteryMBA’s next cohort starts on 13th January, which will offer a combination of in-depth technical and business knowledge on a range of battery topics aligned with the sector's dynamic growth. BatteryMBA alumni have affiliations with Tesla, Farasis Energy, JLR, Airbus, Hitachi High-Tech Europe, Schlumberger, Bertrandt Group, AMTE Power, the University of Birmingham, the European Parliament, and many others.
The course consists of an exciting battery case study track (with case studies from leading business schools). If you have any queries, reach out to us via email at info@battery.mba. Need-based scholarships and group discounts are available.
Battery Associates services
Battery Associates offers consultancy, innovation, and education services on a wide range of topics. Please get in touch if you're interested in any of our services!
About Battery Associates
Battery Associates (B.A) is a community-driven company on a mission to accelerate sustainable battery innovation - join us!
B.A operates as a global network that unites battery experts (BatteryPRO), a platform for innovative projects (BatteryLAB), and a facilitator of training programmes for aspiring battery leaders (BatteryEDU). B.A's educational programmes notably includes BatteryMBA, a 12-week programme training aspiring battery leaders.
We are rapidly becoming a reference community for battery enthusiasts who want to tackle pressing environmental and energy-related challenges. Battery Associates currently unites battery experts working across the battery value supply chain, based in over 20 countries. We're growing, join us in our work!
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sociates offers consultancy, innovation, and education services on a wide range of topics. Please get in touch if you're interested in any of our services!
About Battery Associates
Battery Associates (B.A) is a community-driven company on a mission to accelerate sustainable battery innovation - join us!
B.A operates as a global network that unites battery experts (BatteryPRO), a platform for innovative projects (BatteryLAB), and a facilitator of training programmes for aspiring battery leaders (BatteryEDU). B.A's educational programmes notably includes BatteryMBA, a 12-week programme training aspiring battery leaders.
We are rapidly becoming a reference community for battery enthusiasts who want to tackle pressing environmental and energy-related challenges. Battery Associates currently unites battery experts working across the battery value supply chain, based in over 20 countries. We're growing, join us in our work!
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