Altech Chemicals appoints lead engineer for Cerenergy solid state battery plant project
Altech says Cerenergy batteries are the “game-changing” grid storage alternative to lithium-ion cells.
Altech Chemicals (ASX: ATC) has appointed German company Leadec Automation & Engineering GmbH as lead engineer for a definitive feasibility study into its Cerenergy sodium alumina solid state battery project for grid energy storage.
Leadec supports original equipment manufacturers and suppliers in the field of battery production and e-mobility, covering the complete spectrum from cell, module and pack production to battery disassembly and recycling.
The company employs about 20,000 people and its site teams are based at more than 300 locations worldwide.
Leadec’s Cerenergy project team commenced engineering work after attending a two-day workshop at the Schwarze Pumpe Industrial Park in Saxony, facilitated by Altech’s managing director Iggy Tan.
Battery joint venture
Last month, Altech announced a joint venture agreement with German battery institute Fraunhofer IKTS to commercialise Fraunhofer’s revolutionary Cerenergy battery.
Altech holds 75% majority equity in the project, which will be constructed at Schwarze Pumpe for supply to the grid (stationary) energy storage market.
The market is expected to experience a 28% compound annual growth rate in the coming decades, from $6.39 billion in 2022 to $21.9 billion by 2027.
This equates to around 20 gigawatts in 2020 to over 3000GW by 2050.
‘Game-changing’ alternative
Cerenergy batteries have been labelled as a “game-changing grid storage alternative” to lithium-ion batteries as they are fire and explosion-proof; have a life span of more than 15 years; and can operate in extreme climates.
The technology uses common table salt and is free of lithium, cobalt, graphite and copper, which eliminates exposure to critical metal price rises and supply chain concerns.
When completed, the Cerenergy plant is expected to produce up to 10,000 10-kilowatt per hour battery modules per year, priced at up to $13,200 each (or up to $1,320 per kilowatt hour at final package costs).
Fraunhofer has spent $51 million in research and development of Cerenergy technology over the last eight years, at a $36 million pilot plant in Hermsdorf.