Highlights

• The output capacity of the CERENERGY^® project has been increased to 120MWh from 100MWh per annum.
• The optimised design of CERENERGY^® battery packs has been finalised.
• Silumina Anodes^TM project’s output has been increased by eightfold to 120GWh.

Altech Batteries Limited (ASX: ATC, FRA: A3Y) is an ASX-listed battery technology firm company  focused on commercialising 120MWh CERENERGY^® Sodium Chloride Solid State (SCSS) Batteries and Silumina Anodes^TM battery material.

The company has been engaged in optimising the design of CERENERGY^® batteries and finalising the definitive feasibility study (DFS) of Silumina Anodes^TM project.

In this article, we will have an overview of both the projects along with a look at the recent update.

Recent advances at CERENERGY^® Batteries Project

Image source: Company update

The company has entered into a joint venture with Fraunhofer IKTS, a German battery institute to commercialise CERENERGY^®. It is being developed as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries.

The optimised design of the ATC’s 60KWh battery pack has been finalised. The design of battery pack has undergone a makeover. The updated design supports a sleek stainless-steel exterior, and it is expected that the stainless-steel finish will have the ability to face extreme temperature variations.

The casing of the battery is equipped with a vacuum-sealed, double sided enclosure for better insulation.

Internally, the battery operates at around 270 degrees Celsius, so to minimise heat transfer losses and increase human safety, the battery’s base has been reinforced to include high-temperature-resistant electrical connectors and cables. This would help in minimising heat loss to external environment.

To manage the issue of cold start, heating pads have been included into the internal vacuum-packed casing. Moreover, further improvements have been made to the five internal frames with the intend to optimise the performance.

Moreover, the company is committed to commercialise a 100MWh battery plant in Saxony, Germany, a land of Altech. The plant would focus on the grid energy storage market. The company has filed an application for a permit and license for the construction and operation of the plant.

Along with the continuation of the DFS and project finance for the project, the company is progressing with the license and permit process. This is being done to avoid any delay in execution of the project after the finances are secured.

On 3 November 2023, the company informed that the output capacity of the project has been increased to 120MWh from 100MWh per annum. This happened through optimisation of technical design, without incurring additional capital costs. Read more, here.

Quick glance at Silumina Anodes^TM Battery Materials Project

Image source: Company update

Silumina Anodes^TM is the proprietary silicon graphite product of the company and currently, the company is in race to get its technology in the market.

The company has updated the design and layout of the Silumina Anodes^TM pilot plant project in Germany. Final design phase of the front-end calciners and corresponding plant layout has been completed and to conclude the DFS, an extensive engineering design is required, for it to be priced and sourced from suppliers.

Moreover, preliminary discussions with the regulatory authorities on permits have initiated.

On 14 November 2023, the company informed that during the finalisation of the project’s DFS, the company has managed to increase the capacity from 15GWh to 120GWh, without any change to equipment and plant.

Initially, the company proposed the production of 10k tons of Silumina Anodes^TM product per annum. It included 1k tpa of alumina-coated metallurgical silicon and 9k tpa of similarly coated graphite. Now, the only focus of the plant will be on producing alumina-coated metallurgical silicon product at 8k tpa rate. 

ATC shares traded at AU$0.065 apiece at the time of writing on 20 December 2023.