Battery Material

IBU-tec has received another approval for its planned LFP production facility in Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany. The State Administration Office of Saxony-Anhalt approved new operating buildings for the production platform. The facility is designed for an annual capacity of 15,000 metric tons of LFP battery material. The approved building complex also includes a new laboratory. It will be used to analyze battery materials based on different material combinations. According to IBU-tec, large-scale production is scheduled to begin in early 2028. IBU-tec is already working on logistics, analytics, and IT systems. Detailed engineering for the production equipment has also begun. The steel structure of a logistics building with capacity for around 2,000 pallets has been erected. PowerCo Secures Planned Capacity for Ten Years The planned annual capacity has already been allocated under a long-term agreement. According to IBU-tec, PowerCo has secured the full annual capacity of 15,000 metric tons for ten years at previously defined prices. The company describes the planned facility as Europe’s largest LFP production plant. IBU-tec also states that it expects to be the only European supplier producing LFP cathode material on an industrial scale once the facility is operational. Source:https://www.ibu-tec.de/investor-relations/finanzmeldungen/newsbeitrag/ibu-tec-erhaelt-wichtige-genehmigung-vom-landesverwaltungsamt-weiterer-meilenstein-beim-aufbau-der-groessten-lfp-produktionsanlage-in-europa/

LANXESS is expanding its development activities for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. The specialty chemicals company has commissioned a new battery laboratory at its Krefeld-Uerdingen site in Germany. This facility is being used to investigate iron oxides and iron phosphate as raw materials for LFP cathode materials. The laboratory allows different material grades to be tested directly in battery cells. Testing focuses on their effects on cell performance, processability, and suitability for specific applications. LANXESS aims to shorten development processes and assess material properties under battery cell conditions at an earlier stage. LFP Batteries Gain Market Share The investment comes amid a growing market for LFP batteries. According to market data cited by LANXESS, LFP batteries are already used in more than three-quarters of electric vehicles in China. In Europe, their market share is expected to reach 50 percent by 2030, compared with around 10 percent today. In addition to electric vehicles, stationary energy storage systems, data centers, and critical infrastructure are considered other potential markets. According to the company, LANXESS has been producing iron oxides for around 100 years and has developed specific grades for manufacturing LFP cathode materials. The company positions the battery laboratory as part of its broader offering for the battery industry. The new facility primarily expands LANXESS’s ability to test its own raw materials under battery cell conditions. Source:https://lanxess.com/de-de/presse/presseinformationen/2026/09/neues-labor,-c-,-lanxess-st%C3%A4rkt-batteriekompetenz

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

POSCO Future M plans to supply large volumes of LFP cathode material to an unnamed South Korean battery manufacturer starting in 2027. The agreement covers more than 190,000 metric tons over six years through 2032. The final contract terms are expected to be determined in the third quarter. The agreement marks the company’s entry into the market for cathode materials used in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. According to POSCO Future M, the move is primarily driven by growing demand for stationary energy storage systems (ESS) in North America. LFP Production in Pohang Set to Begin in 2026 To enable production in the near term, POSCO Future M has converted parts of existing production lines at its Pohang plant. These lines previously produced high-nickel cathode materials. The converted facilities will instead manufacture LFP cathode material. According to the company, customer certification of prototypes is currently underway. Commercial-scale deliveries are scheduled to begin by the end of 2026. LFP batteries have lower power output than NCM and NCA cells. However, they are less expensive and designed for a longer service life. POSCO Future M sees potential applications particularly in stationary energy storage and lower-cost electric vehicles. For production, the company plans to use iron oxide derived from steelmaking byproducts, among other materials. Lithium is also expected to come from salt lakes in Argentina. Additional LFP Capacity Planned from 2027 Additional production capacity is also being developed in Pohang. CNP New Material Technology, a joint venture between POSCO Future M and FINO-CNGR, began construction of an LFP cathode material plant in May. Commercial production at the facility is scheduled to start in 2027. Capacity is expected to be expanded in stages to a maximum of 50,000 metric tons. Source:https://www.poscofuturem.com/en/pr/view.do?num=1039

U.S. battery technology company Sila has announced that it has raised $300 million in a private funding round. The capital will be used to accelerate production of silicon-carbon anodes at the company’s Moses Lake, Washington, facility and support the planned second phase of the plant’s expansion. The funding round was led by Atreides Management and Sutter Hill Ventures, with participation from additional existing and new investors. Manufacturing Expansion in Washington According to the company, its Moses Lake production facility began operations in fall 2025 and is currently ramping up production. The first phase is designed to provide an annual production capacity of 2 gigawatt-hours. Over the next five years, the company plans to expand capacity to as much as 250 gigawatt-hours. If achieved, Sila says the facility would become the world’s largest anode material manufacturing plant. Silicon Anodes as an Alternative to Graphite Sila develops silicon-carbon anodes under the brand name Titan Silicon. According to the company, the material delivers 20% to 40% higher energy density than conventional graphite anodes. As a result, batteries could be made smaller and lighter or store more energy without increasing their size. The company also says the material enables faster charging. Silicon is generally considered a higher-capacity anode material than graphite. However, it expands significantly during charging and contracts during discharging. These repeated volume changes can accelerate battery degradation. As a result, today’s lithium-ion batteries typically use only limited amounts of silicon blended with graphite. Sources: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260721561478/en/Sila-Secures-$300-Million-in-Private-Funding-to-Ramp-Gigascale-Anode-Manufacturing-and-Strengthen-Americas-Technology-Sovereigntyhttps://insideevs.com/news/802397/sila-silicon-anode-lithium-ion/

The Chinese battery manufacturer Gotion is planning an industrial project in Valladolid for the production and recycling of battery materials. According to the Spanish government, the investment amounts to more than 940 million euros. The project includes a facility for cathode materials and a battery recycling plant. Government Funding Supports the Project Spain’s Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, and Minister of Transportation, Óscar Puente, presented the project in Valladolid. It is set to receive €138 million in public funding through the PERTE VEC subsidy program. These funds come from a government program for electric vehicles and connected mobility. Construction Scheduled to Begin in 2027 The industrial complex will be built on a 12-hectare site near Valladolid. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027. The initial phase includes a recycling plant that can process up to 200,000 metric tons of battery material per year. A plant for cathode materials will follow in a second phase. This facility is also expected to have an annual capacity of 200,000 metric tons. The company has not disclosed a timeline for the completion of these construction phases. Sources:https://www.electrive.com/2026/07/03/gotion-to-build-battery-facilities-in-spain-next-year/https://www.mintur.gob.es/es-es/GabinetePrensa/NotasPrensa/2026/Paginas/20260701-presentacion-proyecto-gotion-valladolid.aspx