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.

The post Altech unveils 55% higher capacity anode for lithium-ion batteries appeared first on Australian Manufacturing.

Hazer Group has extended its non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Japanese trading giant Mitsui & Co, Ltd (Tokyo, Japan), pushing forward joint efforts to explore potential markets for Hazer’s low-emissions graphite. 

The agreement, which builds on the original MOU announced on 16 November 2022, will now continue for another year, with automatic renewals unless terminated by either party, as revealed in an ASX announcement. 

The partnership leverages Mitsui’s extensive global network to evaluate the applications of Hazer’s graphite in steel manufacturing, chemicals, and other sectors. 

Hazer has already conducted positive market analysis, identifying promising segments for its graphite, including iron and steel production, thermal energy storage, and water purification.

“We are excited to be extending our strategic partnership with Mitsui,” said Hazer’s CEO and Managing Director, Glenn Corrie. 

“Hazer’s technology is unique in that it produces both low-cost, clean hydrogen as well as a low-emissions graphite product.”

Initial investigations have pointed to a variety of applications for Hazer’s graphite:

• Steel Manufacturing: Hazer’s graphite demonstrates suitability for both traditional blast furnaces and emerging green-steel processes, owing to its structured composition and iron inclusion.
• Thermal Energy Storage: Its excellent thermal conductivity and stability make it an efficient medium for heat transfer.
• Water Purification: Hazer’s graphite has shown potential for enhanced PFAS removal, a growing environmental concern.
• Construction Materials: The graphite is also being evaluated for asphalt, bitumen, and concrete production.

According to Corrie, the collaboration with Mitsui helps Hazer access challenging markets and critical industries where decarbonisation solutions are in high demand. 

“In light of increased global awareness around the vulnerability of critical mineral supply chains, this is a clear value differentiator for Hazer’s technology in the methane pyrolysis space,” he added.

As part of the extended agreement, the two companies will move forward with further product evaluation and larger sample testing from Hazer’s Commercial Demonstration Plant (CDP). 

Both companies will also engage with potential buyers to establish volumes, pricing frameworks, and potential offtake agreements.

“Through this important partnership with Mitsui, we have jointly identified markets that offer a good fit for our graphite, and discussions are ongoing to establish volume, pricing ranges, and potential offtake opportunities,” Corrie explained.

The post Hazer and Mitsui strengthen partnership with graphite market expansion focus appeared first on Australian Manufacturing.

International Graphite, based in Western Australia, announced the launch of its new graphite micronising plant in Collie, south of Perth, to bolster Australia’s battery minerals sector.

The newly operational qualification-scale microniser, boasting a capacity of 200 tonnes per annum, stands as the largest of its kind in Australia.

This achievement marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of Australia’s domestic graphite industry, as it will be the first facility in the country to produce graphite products for customer acceptance testing.

This plant serves as a precursor to a planned 4,000 tonnes per annum commercial micronising facility, slated to commence operations within 18 months.

With an estimated investment of approximately $12.5 million, construction of the plant could receive approval as early as mid-year.

Embracing a standalone micronising venture represents an innovative approach for the aspiring graphite producer.

The ultimate objective is to produce advanced battery anode materials at Collie, leveraging the company’s 100 per cent-owned Springdale Graphite Project near Hopetoun in Western Australia.

The establishment of a fully integrated graphite supply chain from Western Australia is poised to be among the first of its kind in the Western world.

Micronising operations will enable the company to cultivate a customer base, accrue operational experience, explore markets for future by-products, and generate cash flow.

The plan has already garnered interest from potential customers and financial partners in Australia, Japan, Korea, and North America.

Andrew Worland, managing director and CEO, emphasised the strategic significance of breaking into the micronised graphite market as a crucial step in advancing the Springdale – Collie mine-to-market strategy.

“Demand for batteries will continue to grow. There are already more than 240 battery gigafactories operating worldwide, and up to 400 expected to open by 2030. All of them will need a secure source of graphite materials,” stated Worland.

The company’s strategy has received backing from both the Western Australian Government, which views early micronising as pivotal in Collie’s economic transition from coal, and the Australian Government, recognising the critical role graphite plays in the battery minerals landscape.

Combined, they have contributed $6.7 million in grant funding to International Graphite.

The initiative is anticipated to create over 100 jobs at Springdale and Collie, fostering economic growth in the region.

Micronised graphite finds application in various industrial products, including lubricants, polymers, plastics, ceramics, lightweight structural materials, and fire-resistant building materials.

Moreover, it serves as a crucial conductive additive in lithium-ion battery cathodes and represents the initial stage in the production of graphite anode material for battery-powered technologies, particularly electric vehicles and green energy storage.

According to International Graphite, with nearly 90 per cent of the world’s processed graphite originating from China, recent export restrictions have underscored the urgency for diversifying future supply chains.

Graphite undergoes several downstream processes to become battery anode material, including micronisation to reduce particle size, spheroidisation, purification, and coating to enhance conductivity.

The post International Graphite unveils state-of-the-art micronising plant in Collie appeared first on Australian Manufacturing.

Australian technology company Hazer Group announced the initiation of its Commercial Demonstration Plant (CDP) and the groundbreaking achievement of the first production of hydrogen and graphite.

The ASX-listed company introduced feed gas to the reactor at Hazer process conditions, resulting in the successful production of hydrogen and Hazer-manufactured graphite at the facility.

Hazer said it aims to ramp up operations throughout the first half of CY2024, executing a performance testing program.

This program is designed to provide comprehensive data demonstrating the plant’s commercial readiness.

The focus of the performance testing program will be on showcasing continuous operation at a commercial scale, setting the stage for integration into Hazer’s global commercial project portfolio.

Hazer’s CEO and MD Glenn Corrie expressed that achieving the successful start-up of the Commercial Demonstration Plant (CDP) and the production of cost-effective, low-emission hydrogen and graphitic carbon through their pioneering pyrolysis technology represents a significant milestone.

“As the team strive towards extended continuous operation of the plant in 2024 we are excited to build on this momentum for the next scale-up of the technology with our global partners in key markets, including North America,
Europe and Asia,” Corrie noted.

The CEO also emphasised that the CDP stands as the culmination of more than a decade of cutting-edge research, development, and engineering innovation.

He commended the Hazer team’s dedication, courage, and resilience in reaching this transformative milestone. Corrie extended appreciation to shareholders, partners, and key stakeholders who supported Hazer’s journey towards becoming a leading commercial clean-technology company.

“Our pipeline of opportunities is growing and with our CDP proving our technology can operate at commercial scale, I’m confident that 2024 will open-up further demand for our disruptive technology that can provide clean hydrogen to accelerate global decarbonisation,” Corrie stated.

The post Hazer Group’s demonstration plant delivers first hydrogen and graphite appeared first on Australian Manufacturing.

Battery materials and technology company NOVONIX Limited announced a significant update regarding its proprietary Generation 3 Furnaces located at the Riverside facility in Tennessee. 

The ASX-listed company said it achieved remarkable milestones with these continuous induction Furnaces, marking a pivotal moment in its mission to revolutionize battery material production.

Previously, NOVONIX reported that its high-performance battery-grade synthetic graphite had met the prescribed specification targets from these Furnaces. 

Subsequently, the company initiated manufacturing campaigns, primarily aimed at gathering operational data and economic insights into this groundbreaking technology. 

In the most recent campaign, the material produced not only met all specifications but also successfully achieved the equipment design throughput targets.

This achievement underscores the immense potential of NOVONIX’s continuous induction Furnace technology, as it can meet production targets while maintaining competitive costs and high energy efficiency with a near-zero-emission process. 

The company is now taking strides to enhance the engineering for both the process equipment and the Riverside facility, setting an increased production target of up to 20,000 tonnes per annum (tpa), compared to the initial goal of 10,000 tpa.

The upgraded throughput capacity aligns with NOVONIX’s commitment to supporting partners like KORE Power and other prospective customers. 

Discussions with these potential clients are ongoing, focusing on product qualification, production schedules, and potential supply agreements. 

The company anticipates completing the engineering work necessary for the full facility redesign by the first quarter of 2024. 

This redesign will accommodate additional mass production equipment, setting the stage for commercial production for KORE Power in late 2024.

Dr Chris Burns, CEO of NOVONIX, commented on the significant milestones, saying, “The results of our ongoing production campaigns clearly demonstrate NOVONIX’s path to profitable production through our first-in-the-world graphitization furnace technology.”

He added, “Over several production campaigns, the Furnaces delivered in-spec product at a mass scale reaching our target design throughputs. The potential to expand the production output of Riverside to up to 20,000 tonnes per annum is an important opportunity for the Company’s near-term growth plans with significant demand and strong progress in customer development.”

One of NOVONIX’s synthetic graphite grades, GX-23, produced during these campaigns, underwent comprehensive analysis and met all target physical and electrochemical specifications. 

This achievement validates the consistency and reliability of the Company’s Generation 3 Furnaces in producing high-quality battery materials.

Furthermore, NOVONIX is strategically focusing on expanding its Riverside facility to maximise output and economic returns. 

The company is also actively collaborating with the US Department of Energy to explore potential funding support for current and future expansions, leveraging grant and loan programs. 

These accomplishments are expected to contribute to reduced capital costs for future facilities compared to initial estimates. 

The timing of future site expansions, including those proposed for North America and Saudi Arabia, will be contingent on finalising Riverside’s engineering (expected in Q1 2024), securing customer off-takes, and obtaining necessary capital.

NOVONIX’s commitment to innovation and sustainability in battery material production positions it as a key player in driving the future of battery technology.

The post NOVONIX hits significant milestones, outlines path to profitability in US anode material manufacturing appeared first on Australian Manufacturing.

Renewable Metals, a Perth-based lithium battery recycler, has won the inaugural Supercharge Australia Innovation Challenge Award with its technology that converts battery waste into battery metals.

The process is claimed to achieve more than 95 per cent recovery of the valuable materials in lithium batteries including lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese and graphite.

The approach does not create black mass and it saves 20 to 30 per cent of the costs of standard recycling, the company said in a media release. 

Supercharge Australia is a project of two not-for-profit organisations, global clean energy start-up accelerator New Energy Nexus, and Australia’s largest climate tech start-up accelerator EnergyLab.

Since 2016, New Energy Nexus has assisted 5,268 entrepreneurs worldwide, created over 6,000 green employment, and mobilised over USD 1.5 billion in investment.

“Australian innovators are uniquely placed to supply emerging and mature global markets with low impact lithium products and resources to support our energy transition with better batteries,” says Danny Kennedy, CEO of New Energy Nexus and managing director of the California Clean Energy Fund.

“I’ve seen billion-dollar battery recycling start-ups in the United States emerging in the last few years and none have technology as exciting as this,” Kennedy said.

Since 2017, EnergyLab has supported Australian start-ups focused on clean energy and climate technology, with over 150 program alumni.

“Supercharge Australia helps ensure Australia’s energy security by supporting the development of the technology needed here for the renewable energy transition,”  EnergyLab CEO Megan Fisher says. 

According to her, Australia is in a good position to benefit fully from the battery and electrification revolution.

Sicona placed second with a University of Wollongong-developed technology to produce next gen battery materials technology used in the anodes of lithium-ion batteries for electric-mobility and storage of renewable energy

Roev came in third place; they convert big fleets of utes to electric, addressing unmet demand and managing energy use.

Vaulta, situated in Brisbane, came in fourth place. They manufacture recyclable and repairable high-performance batteries. Vaulta’s batteries are designed, built, and tested in their Brisbane manufacturing plant.

The announcement was made at a gala event hosted by Dan Ilic at EnergyLab in Sydney on Thursday.

The post WA lithium battery recycler wins Supercharge Australia Award appeared first on Australian Manufacturing.

Magnis Energy Technologies has entered into a binding off-take agreement with Tesla for the supply of anode active materials (AAM) beginning in February 2025.

Under the deal, Tesla plans to purchase a minimum of 17,500 tonnes per annum (tpa) starting from February 2025, and the automaker has an option for a maximum of 35,000tpa for a minimum three-year term at a fixed price.

The agreement is contingent on Magnis securing a final location for its commercial AAM facility by 30 June 2023, producing AAM from a pilot plant by 31 March 2024, beginning commercial AAM production by 1 February 2025, and customer qualification.

Meanwhile, the company said that with equipment orders started and recent hiring made, the construction of pilot plant facilities for both Nachu (Tanzania) graphite concentrate and AAM has begun.

“We are really excited to bring our high-performing AAM to market that requires no chemical or thermal purification throughout the whole process, which differentiates this sustainable material in the market and provides great value to all parties,” Magnis Chairman Frank Poullas said.

An ASX-listed company, Magnis describes itself as “a vertically integrated lithium-ion battery technology and materials company.”

Along with its graphite mining project in Tanzania, the company is part of the Imperium3 New York consortium of companies working to build a Gigawatt scale Lithium-ion battery manufacturing plant in Endicott, New York.

The post Magnis Energy joins hand with Tesla for three-year graphite deal appeared first on Australian Manufacturing.

EcoGraf Limited (ASX:EGR) has received Major Project Status (MPS) approval from the Australian Government for its battery anode materials facility in Western Australia, the graphite company announced today.

MPS recognises the significance of the project towards the Government’s Critical Minerals Strategy and Western Australia’s Future Battery Industry Strategy.

With the MPS approval, EcoGraf is now entitled to receive regulatory and monitoring support from the Major Projects Facilitation Agency (MPFA).

Government approval coincides with the release of the Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Processing Road Map yesterday, alongside the opening of funding rounds for the $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative in the respective industry.

The Company claims the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Hon. Karen Andrews MP, has recognised the opportunity for the graphite facility to contribute to the growth of Australia’s critical minerals industry.

“We are delighted to receive this support from the Australian Government as our development is positioned as an integral part of the downstream modern manufacturing of battery and critical minerals in Australia,” said EcoGraf Managing Director Andrew Spinks.

“EcoGraf’s development strongly aligns with recent legislative policy changes in Europe that require higher standards of environmental and social governance (ESG) in battery supply chains.

“Unprecedented investment is currently underway to establish self-sufficient and sustainable battery manufacturing supply chains to support the electric vehicle industry.”

Last week, EcoGraf announced plans to establish a second battery anode materials facility in Europe. Prior to the expansion announcement, EcoGraf secured $54.6M in placement to fund the construction of its commercial-scale battery anode material facility in WA.

The post EcoGraf’s WA manufacturing facility granted Major Project Status appeared first on Australian Manufacturing.

Renascor Resources Limited (ASX:RNU) announced today it has received verification that its graphite purification technology can deliver, with an independent group confirming the tech’s ability to purify graphite to battery grade at 99.98% C.

German independent battery mineral consultancy group Dorfner Analysenzentrum und Anlagenplanungsgesellschaft undertook the advanced mineral processing trials for Renascor’s purification process, which has been optimized over five years of mineral processing tests.

Renascor’s hydrofluoric acid (HF)-free technology purifies Sivirous natural flake graphite to produce purified spherical graphite (PSG) – the material used in manufacturing lithium-ion battery anodes.

According to Renascor Managing Director David Christensen, the environmentally-friendly and cost-effective purification technology will help meet the demands of lithium-ion battery anode manufacturers.

Renascor intends to leverage the HF-free purification technology to position itself as a dominant producer of high-quality purified spherical graphite (PSG) with leading environmental, social and governance (ESG) credentials.

Currently, anode manufacturers are wholly dependent on Chinese producers of natural flake PSG which uses more environmentally harmful HF.

“The results of these recent trials offer strong support that we can use our HF-free purification technology to create a competitive advantage in production of high-quality Siviour PSG with leading ESG credentials in the first integrated in-country mine and battery anode material operation outside of China,” Christensen said.

Additionally, the results will guide the construction of Renascor’s planned Stage 1 28,000tpa PSG manufacturing facility in South Australia and assist in offtake and finance discussions.

The post Renascor’s graphite purifcation tech delivers ‘outstanding results’ appeared first on Australian Manufacturing.

Vertically integrated graphite developer BlackEarth Minerals (ASX:BEM) announced today that it has secured a supply and marketing agreement of graphite concentrate and downstream graphite products with major German supplier Luxcarbon GmbH (“Luxcarbon”).

Luxcarbon supplies Graphite & Carbon products to major electric vehicle manufacturers including Volkswagen, Mercedes, Ford, and to chemical corporations.

Commenting on the agreement, BlackEarth Managing Director Tom Revy said: “The Board are delighted to sign this Agreement with Luxcarbon, a leader in the graphite supply and marketing of graphite concentrate and downstream products throughout Europe.”

Revy said the agreement will enable BlackEarth to secure a supply of graphite concentrates that can be supplied to Urbix’s operation in the USA and the Company’s downstream processing facility, while the development of the Australian and Madagascar plants is ongoing.

On 3 February, BlackEarth announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with leading US graphite company Urbinx Inc to expedite downstream graphite production.

The graphite developer will use this MoU to secure the supply of 25,000t of high grade product to assist Urbix in completing their plant development.

Concurrently, BlackEarth will continue to develop its own large scale graphite projects in Madagascar which will form a regular supply to upcoming downstream operations.

The Agreement will also see BlackEarth sell 25,000 mtpa of downstream products into the European battery EV materials market, with Luxcarbon to provide technical advisory services to BlackEarth.

He added that the relationship will result in “positive, commercial outcomes” for both parties, given that they previously worked together in sales and marketing networks for the supply of graphite.

“We are excited at the prospects and opportunities this unique agreement provides to our shareholders,” Revy concluded.

The post BlackEarth inks supply and marketing agreement with Germany-based supplier Luxcarbon appeared first on Australian Manufacturing.