Sodium Chloride Solid State (CERENERGY®) batteries (also known historically as sodium nickel chloride batteries) will be the grid battery storage of the future. The CERENERGY® technology has been developed by Fraunhofer IKTS for the last eight years and has revolutionised previous technology, allowing higher energy capacity and lower production costs. The world‘s largest CERENERGY® type batteries in terms of capacity have already been successfully tested in stationary battery modules. The IKTS CERENERGY® batteries are in the final phase of product testing and ready to commercialise. IKTS have spent in the region of EUR 35 million on research & development and operate a EUR 25 million pilot plant in Hermsdorf, Germany.
Distributor of Sodium Nickel Chloride UPS Batteries
Altech has immediate entry into the sodium nickel chloride (SNC), battery market in Australia, Europe and United States of America through a strategic collaboration and distribution agreement with the current largest SNC battery manufacturer AMPower, a subsidiary of the Chilwee Group. Chilwee is the third largest e-mobility battery manufacturer in China, with an annual turnover of US$20 billion, 23,000 employees, and production capabilities spanning lead-acid, lithium-ion, sodium-ion, and next-generation battery technologies.
AMPower currently manufactures conventional Zebra-type sodium nickel chloride (Na/NiCl2) solid-state batteries—using the same chemistry as CERENERGY®—but mainly for the small Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) industrial market. AMPower was originally established as a joint venture with General Electric to produce sodium nickel chloride UPS batteries under the Durathon brand.
Altech Batteries Limited (Altech/Company) (ASX: ATC) (FRA: A3Y) has launched and registered the product name Silumina AnodesTM for its alumina coated composite silicon/graphite lithium-ion battery anode material.
Based on Altech’s test work, its Silumina AnodesTM product is expected to provide for the manufacture of battery anodes, that when incorporated into a lithium-ion battery result in a battery that has higher energy retention capacity by volume and weight, compared to a battery using the incumbent graphite only battery anode. The key differentiation point of Silumina AnodesTM is that it will be a composite material of silicon and graphite particles that have been coated with alumina, using Altech’s proprietary alumina coating technology.