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Highlights
- CERENERGY® batteries maintain safety and performance under overcharge, over-discharge, and extreme heat
- Tests simulate real-world failure conditions, confirming mechanical and electrical durability
- Joint venture with Fraunhofer IKTS aims to scale production to 120 MWh in Germany
Altech Batteries Ltd (ASX:ATC) has announced that its CERENERGY® sodium-chloride solid-state batteries have successfully passed an extensive individual cell testing program, showcasing consistent safety and performance under extreme and adverse operating conditions. This milestone forms a critical part of the company’s efforts to advance commercial deployment of a next-generation energy storage solution that is lithium-free and engineered to perform in harsh environments.
Conducted in collaboration with joint venture partner Fraunhofer IKTS, the battery stress-testing initiative assessed individual cells using international test standards to simulate extreme operational scenarios. These included overcharging, over-discharging, high current draw (C-rate operations), elevated thermal exposure, and intentional cell failures, replicating conditions well beyond the expected use case.
Test results confirmed the CERENERGY® batteries’ ability to continue operating without safety incidents or degradation of function. The cells remained stable under conditions that typically lead to critical failure in conventional lithium-ion batteries, such as sustained voltages below 1.7 volts during over-discharge and voltages exceeding 10 volts for up to 15 hours during overcharge simulations. Throughout these scenarios, no structural damage or safety hazards were observed.
Additional high C-rate tests demonstrated the battery’s capacity to maintain consistent output and mechanical integrity across a range of charging and discharging rates, up to C/3. The batteries also retained full operational performance when exposed to thermal conditions reaching 400°C, a critical capability for large-scale grid applications in environments with extreme temperature fluctuations.
Thermal cycling tests—from ambient temperature to 300°C—were carried out to evaluate repeated exposure to rapid temperature changes. The CERENERGY® cells continued functioning without interruption, revealing strong resistance to mechanical stress and thermal fatigue. Even in cases where individual cells were intentionally short-circuited or failed, the battery system as a whole displayed no cascading effects. There was no casing breach, electrolyte leakage, or performance degradation across the remaining system, affirming CERENERGY®’s fail-safe architecture.
The CERENERGY® battery is under commercial development as part of a joint venture between Altech Batteries Ltd (ASX:ATC) and Fraunhofer IKTS. Plans are underway to construct a 120 megawatt-hour production facility in Saxony, Germany, marking a significant step towards scaling this innovative battery technology for industrial deployment. The robust, fire- and explosion-proof design positions the CERENERGY® battery as a strong alternative to lithium-ion systems in large-scale energy storage, particularly where safety and operational stability in high-temperature or high-risk environments are essential.
Unlike lithium-ion batteries, CERENERGY® technology eliminates the risks associated with flammable electrolyte leakage and thermal runaway. The lithium-free design supports a more sustainable and secure supply chain while addressing the growing demand for resilient, grid-scale battery systems suited for renewable energy storage and utility-grade power management.
In parallel to the CERENERGY® development, Altech Batteries Ltd (ASX:ATC) is advancing its Silumina Anodes™ project, also located in Saxony. This project focuses on manufacturing proprietary silicon-alumina coated anodes targeted at enhancing energy density and performance in electric vehicle battery applications. These anodes offer potential improvements in battery capacity and cycle life, aligning with global efforts to develop advanced materials for next-generation EVs.
The combined progress across both the CERENERGY® battery initiative and the Silumina Anodes™ project reflects a broader strategic commitment by Altech Batteries Ltd (ASX:ATC) to deliver innovative energy storage technologies with a strong focus on safety, sustainability, and performance in challenging operating environments.
