Altech Batteries has announced a milestone in its Silumina Anodes technology, achieving an average 55 per cent increase in lithium battery anode energy capacity, building on its previous 30 per cent improvement.

Utilising innovative proprietary technology, Altech has blended alumina-coated silicon particles (10 per cent) with battery-grade graphite to create a composite graphite/silicon anode, the company said in an ASX announcement.  

“We are thrilled with the significant progress we have made in overcoming the critical challenges associated with using silicon in lithium-ion battery anodes,” stated CEO and Managing Director Iggy Tan. 

In a series of tests, Altech’s lithium-ion battery anode material demonstrated an average energy retention capacity of approximately 500 mAh/g, surpassing the typical average of 320 mAh/g for standard lithium-ion battery anodes. 

Altech previously reported advancements in battery technology, highlighting the development of lithium-ion battery anode materials with a retention capacity approximately 30 per cent higher than standard materials. 

Following this progress, Altech’s research and development laboratory in Perth, Western Australia, has been working to enhance the technology even further.

Laboratory tests of the composite graphite/silicon batteries revealed that Altech effectively tackled previously unresolved issues associated with silicon in lithium-ion battery anodes.

Notable challenges included silicon particle swelling, first-cycle capacity loss of up to 50 per cent, and rapid battery degradation. 

Through the spherification of silicon particles, Altech found that the spherical structure allows for better distribution within graphite voids, minimizing damage to the electrode layer due to expansion.

Historically, the use of silicon in commercial lithium-ion batteries has been limited due to two critical drawbacks: the expansion of silicon particles during charging and the deactivation of a significant percentage of lithium ions, which diminishes battery performance and lifespan, the company noted. 

Altech has completed a Definitive Feasibility Study for constructing an 8,000 tpa Silumina Anodes plant in Saxony, Germany, projecting strong economic returns with a pre-tax NPV10 of €684 million and a low capital cost of €112 million.

“Our breakthrough technology represents a major step forward in unlocking the full potential of silicon in lithium-ion batteries, and we believe it has the potential to revolutionise the battery industry,” Tan stated.  

“We are currently commissioning a pilot plant to further scale up our technology and bring it to market,” he concluded.

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Altech Batteries has achieved a key milestone with the successful launch of its CERENERGY ABS60 prototype, a 60kWh battery installed at the Fraunhofer IKTS lab in Dresden, Germany, which, according to the company, is already surpassing initial performance expectations.

The prototype has passed all physical tests, showing remarkable efficiency and stability during daily charging and discharging cycles, Altech said in a media release.  

Integrated into a specially designed battery test station, the unit is undergoing continuous evaluation under real-world conditions. 

The testing aims to assess the battery’s overall performance, providing vital data to support future commercial applications.

Iggy Tan, CEO and Managing Director of Altech, expressed confidence in the breakthrough, stating, “We are extremely pleased that the first CERENERGY® 60kWh battery prototype is now up and running, operating better than expected.” 

He continued, “This reconfirms our confidence in the sodium-chloride solid-state battery technology developed by the world-leading Fraunhofer Institute in Germany.”

Tan emphasised the advantages of CERENERGY® technology, which eliminates the need for lithium, copper, cobalt, graphite, and manganese. 

The sodium-chloride batteries offer a lifespan of 15 years, nearly double that of conventional lithium-ion batteries, and can operate across a wide range of temperatures.

The company further reported that the prototype will continue testing and refinement, delivering critical data for potential off-take agreements as Altech moves closer to constructing a 120MWh production plant. 

With a Letter of Intent for 30MWh of offtake from Schwarze Pumpe Industrial Park already in place, Tan believes the prototype’s success will further support commercial partnerships.

Altech’s joint venture partner, Fraunhofer, also conducted extensive individual cell testing at their Hermsdorf facility. 

A total of 497 battery cells were produced and tested at 300°C. Over 500 cycles, the cells maintained a consistent discharge capacity of 80Ah with an efficiency rate of up to 91 per cent, showing no signs of degradation. 

For further information, visit Altech’s website.

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Altech Batteries has unveiled an opportunity for eligible shareholders to engage in an equity raising initiative through a Share Purchase Plan (SPP), aiming to generate up to $5 million.

The initiative comes hot on the heels of the company’s Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) for the CERENERGY project, which concluded on 20 March 2024, revealing promising figures including a Net Present Value (NPV) of €169 million and an annual free cash flow of €48 million.

Following the positive outcome of the DFS, Altech said it is progressing towards securing financing for the construction of the CERENERGY battery project, slated to be erected on the company’s property in Germany.

CEO Iggy Tan expressed his satisfaction, stating, “The results of the Definitive Feasibility Study reinforce the economic soundness and potential of our CERENERGY project. We are excited about the positive trajectory and are fully committed to advancing to the funding phase to realise this innovative venture.”

The project’s economic viability remains robust, boasting an EBITDA margin of approximately 47 per cent even at its initial production capacity.

This aligns with the forecasted growth of the grid storage market, projected at an impressive 28 per cent Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR).

Moreover, the project presents a competitive edge with a low lifetime levelized cost of storage at €0.06/kWh, significantly undercutting the €0.149/kWh for lithium-ion batteries.

Altech is extending the opportunity to all shareholders to participate in the capital raising via an SPP, aimed at facilitating further activities related to the CERENERGY battery project, as well as the Silumina Anodes TM battery materials project.

Notably, participation in the SPP incurs no brokerage, commission, or other transaction costs for shareholders, allowing all funds received by Alltech to be directly allocated towards commercialising its technology.

With an eye on the burgeoning grid storage market, projected to witness substantial growth amidst the global shift towards renewable energy, Altech said it is racing to bring the CERENERGY battery into production.

Shares issued under the SPP will be priced at $0.065 per share, accompanied by one free attaching option for every two shares acquired.

These options will be exercisable at $0.08 per share and will expire on 30 April 2026.

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Altech Batteries has characterised its advancements as “excellent,” as it undergoes the manufacturing of two ABS60 60 kWh CERENERGY battery prototypes in Germany intended for customer performance testing.

The project, initiated last year, has seen the transformation of battery packs originally developed with 5 kWh and 10 kWh capacities by German research institute Fraunhofer IKTS.

With Altech’s involvement, the focus shifted towards creating a substantial 60 kWh unit tailored for the grid storage market, the ASX-listed company said in a media release.

The manufacturing process, taking place at Fraunhofer IKTS’ pilot line in Hermsdorf, Germany, has undergone extensive redesign and innovation to accommodate the larger battery prototypes.

In particular, the ABS60 battery pack consists of 240 CERENERGY cells, each rated at 2.5 V. These cells are arranged in four rows, stacked five modules high, resulting in a robust and sizable energy storage solution.

The pack’s dimensions are 2.6 metres in height, 0.4 metres in length, and 1.0 metre in width, adhering to the Ingress Protection (IP) 65 standard for dust and weatherproofing.

All materials required for the prototypes have been procured, and the crucial stages of cell production, including ceramic component blending, high-pressure pressing, tube formation, and sintering at 1,600 degrees Celsius, have been successfully navigated.

The ceramic tube production, a critical element, is halfway complete, showcasing the project’s steady progress.

The innovative assembly process involves laser welding tests, vacuum filling, heating, and welding to ensure precise alignment and performance of each cell.

An industrial micro computed tomography (µCT) scanning system is employed for quality assurance, verifying filling height, composition, alignment, and cathode material behaviour post-initialization.

Encouragingly, fifty percent of the required cells have been successfully produced, with low reject or defect rates falling within expected limits.

The Cell Contacting System (CCS), designed by Hofer AG, has been integrated into module frames, demonstrating robust electrical specifications and tolerances.

König Metall GmbH has delivered the battery casings, currently undergoing testing to evaluate heat loss parameters.

As the prototypes near completion, Altech plans to showcase them to potential customers, offering insight into the practical applications and benefits of the ABS60 series in various industries.

This collaboration aims to secure offtake agreements, marking a pivotal step towards the commercialisation of this innovative and sustainable energy storage solution.

The assembly of cells into the battery housing is expected to be finalised by mid-2024, further propelling Altech’s commitment to advancing clean energy technologies.

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ASX company Altech Batteries Limited has revealed the preliminary battery specifications for its CERENERGY 60 KWh and 1 MWh GridPack battery products. 

Developed in collaboration with its joint venture partner Fraunhofer IKTS, the specifications are intended to address the evolving needs of the renewable energy and grid storage market. 

The 60 kWh Battery Pack (ABS60) is rated at an operating voltage of 600 volts and 100 amp. The battery is designed to provide battery backup and cutting-edge performance in grid-tied commercial applications for an uninterrupted power supply. 

Meanwhile, the ABS1000 GridPack battery targets larger-scale applications, including grid-level storage and industrial power backup. 

Equipped with 1MWh capacity, the battery system is designed to ensure a stable and uninterrupted power supply, contributing to grid stability and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. 

The GridPacks are also intended to ensure complete protection from both dust and any external environments, which means there is no need for additional shelters or buildings to house the batteries. 

The preliminary specifications are expected to pave the way for discussions with potential off-take partners and secure future sales in the lucrative and growing grid storage battery market, Altech said in an ASX announcement. 

According to Altech, grid storage batteries have emerged as a key enabler for balancing energy supply and demand, ensuring stable power delivery, and maximising the utilisation of renewable energy sources. This comes as power systems that heavily rely on weather-dependent renewables reach their limitations. The absence of sunlight and wind for prolonged periods is also raising concerns about power supply. 

Energy surpluses also pose a significant issue, Altech explained. On days when sunlight is abundant but the demand is low, excess power is discharged to the ground, resulting in substantial wastage of electrical power. 

The grid energy storage market is expected to grow by a 28 per cent compound annual growth rate in the coming decade. 

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Battery technology company Altech Chemicals has reached a number of significant milestones in the commercialisation of its CERENERGY 100 MWh Sodium Alumina Solid State Battery for grid energy storage in Saxony, Germany, said Managing Director Iggy Tan.

Speaking during an interview with The Market Herald Boardroom News, Tan shared that Altech already hosted two expert workshops with the aim to bring forward detailed design requirements for a production plant.

Important equipment suppliers have been appointed and are collaborating closely with the different project teams.

Altech also hired Arikon Infrastruktur to oversee the CERENERGY SAS battery facility’s approval procedure, site infrastructure requirements, and the balance of the plant.

The Altech official highlighted that the company is in talks with prospective offtake parties, such as a major German energy producer and that they are currently looking to talk to European banks at an early stage for potential project funding.

Iggy Tan also explained the benefits of the CERENERGY battery pack compared to lithium-ion batteries saying that in terms of costs, the battery is expected to be about 40 to 50 per cent cheaper. 

“Our batteries actually operate right down to minus (-) 40 deg C and right up to plus (+) 60 deg C so it has a very wide temperature range,” he added. 

Designed to cater to the renewable energy and grid storage market, the battery was developed as part of its joint venture with German battery institute Fraunhofer in September. 

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ASX-listed battery manufacturer Altech Chemicals has unveiled its CERENERGY Sodium Alumina Solid State 60 kWh battery pack, ABS60.  

Designed to cater to the renewable energy and grid storage market, the battery was developed as part of its joint venture with German battery institute Fraunhofer. 

According to preliminary discussions with potential off-takers for the 100 MWh CERENEGY battery project, the proposed battery module for 10 kWh has been superseded by a 60 kWh battery pack rated at a higher voltage of 620 volts and 100 amp hours. 

Altech entered a JV agreement with Fraunhofer in September to commercialise the German company’s cutting-edge CERENERGY Sodium Alumina Solid State Battery. 

The ABS60 battery pack is equipped with 240 CERENERGY arranged in four rows of 12 cells and five cell modules high. 

The packs are designed for Ingress Protection 65 standard, which makes them dust and weatherproof. 

The ABS60 battery packs are also fire-proof, allowing them to be safely installed indoors where lithium-ion batteries are prohibited. 

“Since the CERENERGY batteries can operate at a very wide temperature range, minus (-) 40 deg C to plus (+) 60 deg C, the battery pack will be ideal for the cold European climates,” Altech Chemicals said in its ASX announcement today. 

As part of the agreement, Altech will be the majority owner at 75 per cent of the JV company, which will commercialise a 100 MWh project, which will be constructed on Altech’s property in Schwarze Pumpe, Germany. 

The battery plant will now be designed to produce ABS60 battery packs as a standard product to meet Europe’s renewable energy and grid storage market. 

Fraunhofer has estimated that the production cost of CERENERGY batteries would be approximately 40 per cent cheaper than that of lithium-ion batteries, as it does not require lithium, graphite, copper, or cobalt.

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