UK-based speciality chemicals company Johnson Matthey (JM) is set to launch commercial production of its “high energy” battery material technology by 2022— but is staying tight-lipped about which country will host the plant.
Investors have been told the enhanced lithium nickel oxide (eLNO) material plant, which will target batteries for the electric vehicles market, “will be located in Europe, in line with the development of its supply chain”.
A JM spokesperson declined to comment on why the company had not committed to building the post-Brexit plant in the UK— where it is already developing plans to build a demonstration-scale facility for eLNO technology.
The spokesperson confirmed only that JM is “on track for the design and construction of our first commercial plant to start production in 2021/22”.
News of the commercial facility emerged as JM unveiled preliminary results for the year ended March 2018 on 31 May. The company said it would “deliver breakout growth” as it commercialises its “ultra-high energy density next generation eLNO material”. The move is aimed at competing with “future materials such as NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt) 811” to target batteries for the growing electric vehicle market.
Meanwhile, the company said it plans to increase the proposed capacity of its UK eLNO demonstration plant from 500 tonnes to 1,000 tonnes. “Our focus is on targeting large, multinational automotive and cell OEMs who will play an active role in specifying cathode materials and will benefit most from the material’s leading characteristics,” JM said.
JM unveiled plans in 2016 to license five patents towards speeding up the adoption of NMC cathode materials in lithium-ion batteries. JM said the deal with US firm 3M would allow it to focus on providing a bigger portfolio of cathode materials for the automotive and high performance markets.
The deal followed JM’s acquisition in 2015 of Switzerland-based Clariant’s lithium-ion battery materials energy storage business.