June 23, 2022: KORE Energy mentioned on June 8 it had been chosen to produce its battery know-how for a 10MW/20MWh lithium ion BESS being developed within the UK by ABB.

The US-based battery cell tech firm will present its Mark 1 storage modules outfitted with excessive energy density NMC pouch know-how for the power, which shall be put in at renewable energy firm Ecotricity’s present 6.9MW wind farm in Gloucestershire in 2023.

The BESS will use Ecotricity’s proprietary ‘Good Grid’ platform to dispatch saved electrical energy in keeping with system wants, KORE mentioned.

Mark Meyrick, head of sensible grids at Ecotricity, mentioned: “We’ve been working in direction of our first grid scale battery as we’ve been creating our Good Grid platform and we’re wanting ahead to taking this subsequent step with ABB.

“This venture is a primary for us and can allow us to handle demand for renewable energy, in addition to develop a higher understanding of the deployment of storage for flexibility necessities.”

On March 23, KORE said it had acquired energy storage firm Northern Reliability for an undisclosed sum — and had launched a brand new division referred to as KORE Options.

The announcement got here after the corporate warned on February 24 that liquidity remained tight forward of a merger of its e-mobility enterprise with a US-listed particular goal acquisition firm (SPAC).

Leclanché mentioned then it had secured a Sfr20.4 million bridging mortgage from the SPAC’s largest shareholder, SEFAM, to run its operations forward of the merger.

By way of the merger, Leclanché mentioned on June 6 that, in its view, the due diligence course of had been accomplished and it expects to begin the negotiation for the merger settlement.

Within the interim, the corporate has began talks with different SPACs on its shortlist “to make sure a aggressive bidding course of”.

In the meantime, “direct confidential discussions with just a few main industrial corporations for a strategic funding in Leclanché E-Mobility” are additionally underway, as the corporate works to “absolutely fund enterprise necessities via 2024”.

Nonetheless, the corporate warned “worldwide provide chains points proceed to impression near-term enterprise supply functionality with intermittent manufacturing”.

In a associated transfer, Leclanché mentioned Jean-François Stenger had been promoted to the submit of deputy chief monetary officer and can be performing as CFO till additional discover.

The corporate had introduced in March that former CFO, Hubert Angleys, was leaving and Fabrizio Pauletti had been appointed interim CFO.

June 23, 2022: Extra mining of uncooked supplies is required to provide lithium ion battery producers as a result of “recycling alone can’t meet demand”, the Superior Automotive Battery Convention in Mainz was instructed on June 13.

Wooden Mackenzie analysis analyst Max Reid stated recycling can relieve some strain from the provision deficit of battery uncooked supplies, however “with fast enlargement within the battery provide chain, we’ve got created a state of affairs of excessive waste.

“There must be a push in increasing virgin sourcing whereas maximising the recycling sector to ease the deficit,” Reid stated. “Put money into mines now.”

In line with Wooden Mackenzie, world cumulative lithium ion battery capability might rise greater than five-fold to five,500GWh between 2021 and 2030 because the electrification of the transportation sector has precipitated a increase in demand.

Reid stated recycling might cut back fast enlargement in carbon-intensive mines in addition to cut back waste.

Recycling manufacturing scrap and finish of life batteries might turn out to be a considerable supply of uncooked materials to satisfy surging demand. Recycling additionally presents a chance to supply supplies in areas that lack pure sources.

Annual demand for key battery uncooked supplies stands at 97 kilotonnes for lithium, 186kt cobalt and three,014kt nickel, in response to Wooden Mackenzie.

By 2030, these are anticipated to develop to 318kt, 264kt and 4,273kt, respectively. Provide from recycled supplies, “although paling as compared”, ought to attain 130kt for lithium, 112kt cobalt and 377kt nickel, by the tip of the last decade.

At current, the challenges of recycled battery uncooked supplies appear insurmountable, Reid says.

“Many of the dialogue has been across the assortment and recycling of end-of-life electric automobiles, however the course of is plagued with challenges.

“First, the cathode, which comprises important metals within the EV pack, is overpackaged with pack supplies comparable to casings, interconnects, cooling channels and others. The result’s a tedious recycling course of with little worth.”

Coupled with an trade push to make use of decrease worth supplies, the transfer in direction of larger-sized EV packs can be a deterrence in opposition to recycling because of decrease throughput whereas containing decrease worth supplies.

Second, EV packs have lengthy warranties and lifetimes. “Recovering important metals from them might be a long-term affair. As well as, the emergence of second-use purposes, like residential or industrial energy storage, may also hold end-of-life EVs from getting into the recycling system.”

Battery manufacturing capability globally is forecast to develop 3.5 occasions to greater than 4,600GWh by 2030, with China main the best way, stated Reid.