Author name: Cornelius Karow

LG Energy Solution has signed a long-term offtake agreement for lithium carbonate produced in the United States. The supplier is Smackover Lithium, a joint venture between Standard Lithium and Equinor. The agreement covers 8,000 metric tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate annually over a ten-year period. The material is expected to come from the South West Arkansas Project in Arkansas. With the agreement, LG Energy Solution aims to source a larger share of this key cathode material within the United States. One factor behind the agreement is the growing North American market for stationary energy storage systems. LG Energy Solution requires raw materials for batteries using lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry. The company operates seven manufacturing facilities in the United States. According to the company, most already have production capacity for LFP batteries. Direct Lithium Extraction to Support Supply Chain Smackover Lithium plans to produce the lithium carbonate using direct lithium extraction followed by purification. According to the companies involved, the DLE process is intended to provide a more sustainable method of sourcing the raw material. Source:https://news.lgensol.com/company-news/press-releases/5189/

Asahi Kasei is expanding its production of separators for lithium-ion batteries in North America. At its site in Charlotte, North Carolina, the company has opened a new coating facility for wet-process Hipore separators. Commercial production is scheduled to begin in the second half of fiscal 2026. The facility complements the existing Celgard plant in Charlotte. Asahi Kasei has produced dry-process separators there since 1986. With the new line, the company plans to coat and supply wet-process separators in North America as well. The investment decision was made in 2023. Asahi Kasei Builds Regional Supply Structure The coating line processes separators sold under the Hipore brand. According to the company’s plans, it represents a first step toward establishing a regional supply structure for wet-process separators. Asahi Kasei attributes the expansion to expected growth in battery demand in North America. In addition to electric vehicles, stationary energy storage systems are expected to generate further demand. In parallel, Asahi Kasei is building another production facility in Canada. Together, the two sites are intended to supply the North American market. The Charlotte facility is also covered by a capacity rights agreement with Toyota Tsusho Corporation. Source:https://www.asahi-kasei.com/news/2026/e280826

Anthro Energy has begun construction of a battery electrolyte manufacturing facility in Louisville, Kentucky. According to the company, the plant is scheduled to begin producing a new polymer electrolyte at commercial scale in late 2027. Anthro describes the facility as the first U.S.-owned and operated manufacturing site of its kind. The planned annual production capacity is approximately 12,000 metric tons of electrolyte, according to Anthro. The company says this volume could support lithium-ion battery production totaling up to 25 GWh. Target applications include energy storage, electronics, mobility, robotics, and defense. Federal Funding Supports Production Expansion The project is supported by U.S. federal funding. Anthro received $24.9 million under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. According to the company, the project also received $18.4 million in investment tax credits through the Inflation Reduction Act’s 48C program. Polymer Electrolyte Designed to Replace Liquid Electrolytes Production will be based on Anthro’s Proteus platform. The technology uses phase-change polymer electrolytes instead of conventional liquid electrolytes. The company claims the technology can improve battery safety, energy density, and design flexibility. Anthro also states that the electrolytes are compatible with existing lithium-ion battery manufacturing infrastructure. Source:https://www.prweb.com/releases/anthro-energy-breaks-ground-on-americas-first-us-owned-advanced-electrolyte-manufacturing-facility-in-kentucky-302854915.html

EcoPro BM plans to convert its plant in Debrecen, Hungary, to produce additional cathode materials. In addition to nickel-cobalt-aluminum (NCA), the facility will also process nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM). The South Korean manufacturer is thus aligning its production more closely with the European electric vehicle market. EcoPro BM estimates the conversion will cost around 40 billion won, equivalent to approximately $29 million. Initial shipments of NCM materials to European customers are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027. According to the company, the planned customers include a German premium automaker. Debrecen Plant to Produce NCA and NCM The Debrecen plant began commercial operations in the first half of the year. Production has been running at a larger scale since June. The second production line is scheduled to start in September. EcoPro BM is targeting production of around 10,000 metric tons this year, rising to 30,000 metric tons next year. Once all three production lines are operating at full capacity, the plant is expected to have an annual cathode material capacity of 54,000 metric tons. According to EcoPro BM, this volume would be sufficient to supply batteries for around 600,000 electric vehicles. So far, the production lines have been designed for NCA materials. EcoPro BM is now ordering additional equipment and preparing to convert the facility for combined NCA and NCM production. The site is part of a larger EcoPro Group production complex. EcoPro Innovation also operates a lithium processing facility there, with an annual capacity of 8,000 metric tons of lithium hydroxide. EcoPro AP produces industrial gases at the site. Source:https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/business/companies/20260824/ecopro-bm-begins-overhaul-of-hungary-plant-to-target-european-ev-market

Norwegian battery materials developer ZNL Energy and Bonn-based High Performance Battery Technology (HPB) plan to expand their collaboration. The companies have signed a letter of intent for this purpose. ZNL is expected to become a preferred separator supplier for HPB’s planned cell production. The companies intend to use the ZNL-NPx separator material. Deliveries are currently scheduled to begin in 2028. They are subject to successful product qualification and a binding supply agreement. Thinner Separator Aims to Increase Energy Density HPB uses its own inorganic solid-state electrolyte. It is initially introduced into the cell using solid and liquid starting materials before curing. According to ZNL, the non-porous and flame-retardant ZNL-NPx separator is intended to prevent short circuits between the electrodes during the initially liquid phase. At the same time, the material is significantly thinner than the previously used glass-fiber separator, according to the companies. This is intended to create space for additional electrode pairs without changing the cell volume. HPB and ZNL expect this to increase capacity and provide advantages in series production. Tests Reach More Than 4,500 Charge Cycles According to ZNL and HPB, the companies have been testing the combination of their technologies since 2024. The cells have reportedly completed more than 4,500 charge-discharge cycles at room temperature. Testing was conducted at charge and discharge rates of 1C. The companies also report improvements in manufacturability and energy density compared with previously used separator solutions. HPB plans to scale up industrial production of its solid-state batteries. In the long term, the company is targeting annual production capacity in the multi-GWh range. Source:https://www.highperformancebattery.ch/de/pressestimmen/pm-26-08-10.php