Energy Storage News

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• July 2023: Researchers from the University of Houston in the United States developed a successful prototype of a fully stretchable fabric-based lithium-ion battery. According to the researchers, the battery could lead to stretchy laptops, phones, or even interactive sensors embedded in clothes that monitor health. The new battery offers improved safety, enhanced performance, and remarkable flexibility for new applications.
• August 2023: Researchers at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore (NTU Singapore) developed a flexible battery as thin as a human cornea. This innovative battery charges itself when submerged in a saline solution and has the considerable potential to fuel smart contact lenses in the future. The battery is made of biocompatible materials and does not contain wires or toxic metals like those in lithium-ion batteries or wireless charging systems.

• February 2024: Chhattisgarh successfully inaugurated one of the biggest solar facilities in India with a battery energy storage system located in the Rajnandgaon district. The solar power plant, established by the Solar Corporation of India (SECI) and Chhattisgarh Power Distribution Company, provides a capacity of 100 MW, ensures electricity even during the night, and generates more than five lakh units daily.
• February 2024: GFCL EV Products Ltd. (GFCL EV), a subsidiary of Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd (GFL), plans to invest INR 6000 crore (USD 720 million) to supply 200GWh EV and battery energy storage system (BESS) solutions globally in the next 4-5 years. GFL has already committed INR 650 crore (USD 78 million) of the entire investment till December 31, 2023, with GFCL EV set to join EV and ESS battery markets in the United States, Europe, and India.
• December 2023: Namibia Power Corporation (NamPower) inked significant EPC contracts with Shandong Electrical, Engineering, and Equipment Group (SDEE) and Narada Power for a grid-scale battery energy storage project. The joint venture between the two Chinese enterprises is expected to deliver the 54MW/54MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) to Namibia's Omburu substation in the Erongo region.

• November 2023: Amazon.com stopped selling illegal batteries to New Yorkers, making the online retailer partially comply with a city law that prohibits the sale of batteries not approved by the nationally recognized UL Solutions (Underwriters Laboratory).
• January 2023: US battery manufacturer Yoshino Technology announced the development of solid-state lithium-ion batteries with outputs ranging from 330 W to 4,000 W designed for home backup, off-grid applications, and powering small industrial machinery. The system can be used in combination with solar panels. The 4,000 W power station has a peak power of 6,000 W and 2,611 W/h capacity. A 600 W solar panel can fully recharge in 5.5 hours.

• Jun 2023: Torrent Power, a private-sector integrated utility in India, marked an accord with the Maharashtra state government to develop three pumped storage hydro projects aggregating to 5.7 GW capacity. The projects involve an estimated investment of USD 3.27 billion and employ about 13,500 people during the construction phase.
• Feb 2023: GE Hydro Solutions inaugurated the final two 300 MW turbines at a pumped hydro energy storage plant in Anhui Province, China.

• In March 2022, the Indonesian government launched a 5MW battery energy storage system (BESS) pilot project as it aims to move away from diesel-generated power. Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) 'de-dieselization' program will involve 5,200 units of new renewable energy generation with a total power of 2GW by 2024 and is a potential application for battery storage.
• In May 2022, Vietnam's government published plans to double its stationed power generation capacity to 146 gigawatts (GW) by 2030, and for the same, Vietnam calls for up to USD 14 billion annual power investment.

• February 2022: The partnership between FIMER and Vega Solar supplied 14 PVS-100 inverters, a three-phase string solution, to Albania. The PVS-100/120-TL is a cloud-connected three-phase string inverter by FIMER designed for cost-effective decentralized solar systems on both ground and rooftops.
• May 2022: Salient Energy, a company developing proprietary zinc-ion batteries as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries in residential energy storage, announced that it had formalized a partnership with Horton World Solutions (HWS), a sustainable homebuilder whose proprietary composite framing system enables best-in-class energy efficiency and construction time.

• February 2024: Singapore's ST Engineering unveiled the Terrex s5, an infantry fighting vehicle it touts as the world's pioneering hybrid-electric 35-ton armored vehicle. The vehicle boasts a standard 711 horsepower output and a 1,000-kilometer range. However, with the optional hybrid range extender, featuring a lithium-ion battery, the Terrex s5 can surge to 1,200 horsepower and offers a stealthy 50-kilometer range, as detailed in the company's fact sheet.
• September 2023: With the government intensifying its eco-friendly endeavors in the automotive sector, the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) was advocating for Budget 2024 to extend incentives to all types of electrified vehicles (xEVs), not just limited to electric vehicles (EVs). This move aims to bolster the adoption of xEVs across Malaysia. Malaysia has set ambitious targets, eyeing a 15% share of electrified vehicles in the total industry volume (TIV) by 2030, escalating to 38% by 2040. In a bid to further propel EV adoption, the government has declared that EVs in Malaysia will be exempt from road tax until December 31, 2025.

• April 2024: Syensqo initiated the construction of its cutting-edge battery-grade polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) facility in Augusta, Georgia. Upon completion, this site will stand as the largest PVDF production facility in North America, catering to the escalating demands of the domestic energy storage markets. Representing a pivotal step in Syensqo's global electrification blueprint, this facility is poised to play a crucial role in producing the essential battery materials that are instrumental in driving widespread electrification and the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). PVDF, a thermoplastic fluoropolymer, finds its application as a lithium-ion binder and separator coating in batteries.
• September 2023: Umicore, in collaboration with AESC, a prominent player in high-performance battery development for EVs and energy storage, inked a decade-long deal. Under this agreement, Umicore will be the key supplier of high-nickel battery materials for EV battery production at AESC's US manufacturing plants. This strategic partnership not only bolsters AESC's regional growth aspirations but also ensures a steady supply of these crucial, sustainably sourced materials. For Umicore, this deal not only secures a significant portion of the North American EV battery material demand but also diversifies its ties within the EV value chain.

• June 2024: Toshiba Corporation, Sojitz Corporation, and Brazil's CBMM, a leading niobium producer, jointly developed a cutting-edge lithium-ion battery featuring niobium titanium oxide (NTO) in the anode. They recently showcased a prototype E-bus powered by this innovative battery at an inaugural event. The battery boasts an impressive 10-minute ultra-fast charging time and exceptional energy density. The E-bus is currently undergoing testing and demonstration runs at CBMM's facility in Araxá, Brazil.
• August 2023: Y-TEC, a subsidiary of YPF, Argentina's state-owned company, is set to inaugurate its first lithium battery cell and material factory in La Plata, the capital of Buenos Aires province, this September. Additionally, a significantly larger plant is slated to commence operations in Santiago del Estero in 2024. The Berisso manufacturing plant in La Plata will be operational by September as well.

• February 2024: Hindalco Industries planned to invest INR 800 crore (~USD 96.4 million) to build a new aluminum foil plant near Sambalpur in Odisha, India. The facility aims to produce high-quality battery foil for the rapidly growing electric vehicle and energy storage system markets.
• January 2024: Indian companies such as Aether Industries, Himadri Speciality Chemicals, and Tata Chemicals invested in lithium-ion battery production. Aether Industries has recently announced a strategic agreement with a global lithium-ion battery producer to expand into the electrolyte additives market. This agreement includes the commercial supply of one electrolyte additive, and discussions have begun to develop three additional products. Himadri Speciality Chemicals is also planning to establish a manufacturing facility for lithium-ion battery components with a total capacity of 2 lakh tonnes per annum. Ami Organics has signed a non-binding MoU with a global manufacturer of electrolytes. The company is also set to sign an MoU with the Gujarat government to set up a dedicated manufacturing facility at a cost of around USD 36 million.