Altech Batteries Ltd (ASX:ATC) has made significant progress on its CERENERGY® battery joint venture with Fraunhofer IKTS, with the company finalising the plant design with its selected suppliers.
Critical expert workshops were held at Fraunhofer’s facility in Dresden, Germany, in May, where the suppliers showcased their expertise in manufacturing plants, automation and robotics.
Pleased with progress
Altech managing director Iggy Tan, who led the workshops, said: "The level of excellence exhibited by the German plant unit suppliers we have brought together is truly remarkable.
“They possess extensive expertise in manufacturing plants that prioritise automation and robotics as essential components of the design.
“Our objective is to manufacture battery cells from the ground up, encompassing the production of ceramic solid-state tubes, full cell assembly and conducting quality and battery performance checks at a rate of one every 45 seconds.
“We have made substantial progress in our design endeavours and are currently transitioning towards obtaining the final cost estimates for the plant.
“Given our exclusive rights to this technology, all our design efforts will pave the way for our future success.”
Game-changing product
CERENERGY batteries have been designed to offer game-changing grid storage alternatives to lithium-ion batteries.
The batteries are fire and explosion-proof, have a lifespan of more than 15 years and can operate in extreme climates, while eliminating exposure to critical metal price rises and supply chain concerns.
The Altech-Fraunhofer joint venture is developing a 100-megawatt-per-hour SCSS battery plant on Altech’s land in Saxony, Germany, specifically focused on the grid (stationary) energy storage market.
This plant is being designed to produce ABS60 battery packs as a standard product to meet Europe’s renewable energy and grid storage market.
Fraunhofer had previously estimated that the cost of producing CERENERGY batteries will be 40% cheaper than lithium-ion batteries, as they do not require lithium, graphite, copper or cobalt.
This will be confirmed in the definitive feasibility study (DFS) that Altech is preparing.
The project suppliers
- Gustav Eirich GmbH - Selected to provide advanced ceramic powder mixing and granulation equipment and technology for ceramic mixing systems;
- Frey Systeme GmbH - To provide isostatic machines for producing green ceramic tubes using alumina powder at a remarkable production rate of one tube every 45 seconds;
- Riedhammer GmbH - To provide a tunnel kiln for sintering of ceramic tubes, employing a heating profile of approximately 35 hours and maximum temperature of 1600°C;
- Xenon Automation GmbH - To implement comprehensive quality checks for completed sintered ceramic tubes using optical and ultrasonic tests to detect faults;
- Fritz Automation GmbH - Chosen as the supplier for cell filling and assembly, providing automation systems for various tasks such as tube cutting, electrode assembly, and cell and battery pack assembly;
- Hofer Powertrain GmbH - A leading supplier of connector plates used for battery busbar connections and wire connections, ensuring secure and seamless connections between battery cells;
- König Metall GmbH - To supply insulated battery pack cases, designed with excellent vacuum insulation to ensure safety and operate in all weather conditions;
- Dresden Elektronik GmbH - To provide automation and robotics for cell initialisation and performance testing, ensuring proper functioning of the completed battery cells;
- IAV GmbH Ingenieurgesellschaft Auto und Verkehr (IAV) - To provide an advanced Battery Management System (BMS) design for battery packs, enabling optimal performance, safety, and remote operation;
- Mein Lagerraum³ GmbH - Responsible for the fabrication of iso-container frames to house the 60 KWh battery packs that make up the 1 MWh GridPack (ABS 1000);
- Leadec Automation & Engineering GmbH - Appointed as the contractor for advanced electric and automation solutions, including control centres, local operation systems, and real-time data acquisition for the battery plant;
- ARIKON Infrastruktur GmbH - Tasked with designing and costing all site buildings and infrastructure, managing approval and permitting, and ensuring compliance with construction and operational requirements; and
- Leadec Automation & Engineering GmbH - Chosen as the lead engineer for the DFS and possibly the EPCM contractor for the project.
Frey's robotic isostatic pressing machine.