basf

BASF inks sodium-sulfur sales deal with NGK Insulators

German chemicals group BASF is expanding its presence in the energy sector, after agreeing to sell lithium-ion and sodium sulfur (NaS) batteries developed by Japan’s NGK Insulators.

BASF New Business (BNB)— a subsidiary of the chemicals group— said on 11 June it had signed a non-exclusive rights agreement to sell NaS batteries through BASF’s international network.

basf

NGK Insulators

BASF New Business

sodium sulfur (NaS) batteries

companies

sustainability

energy storage systems

chemistries

ESS eyes African power market for all-iron flow batteries

All-iron flow battery system manufacturer Energy Storage Systems (ESS) has outlined plans to expand into the African market, targeting microgrid and utility-scale projects.

Oregon-based ESS has become the first flow battery manufacturer to join the US-backed Power Africa programme, which works with governments, agencies and private companies to develop power-generating infrastructure in electricity-starved sub-Saharan Africa.

ESS

Power Africa

sub-Saharan Africa

all-iron flow battery

LG Chem, Ford in blockchain pilot to trace ‘ethical’ battery materials

Tech giant IBM has teamed up with battery maker LG Chem, the Ford Motor Company and others to use blockchain technology “to trace and validate ethically-sourced materials” for batteries and other products.

The group, which includes Chinese mining firm Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and auditing specialist RCS Global, is starting with a pilot focused on cobalt sourced in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The move comes amid increasing pressure on electric vehicle producers and their battery suppliers to ensure an ethical approach for procuring raw materials— and hot on the heels of another ‘sustainable cobalt’ initiative launched by South Korea’s Samsung SDI and Samsung Electronics, Germany’s BMW and chemicals group BASF.

Zheijang Huayou Cobalt

Korean-German partners launch ‘sustainable cobalt’ project in DRC

South Korean firms Samsung SDI and Samsung Electronics are teaming up with German car giant BMW and chemicals group BASF for a joint pilot cobalt mining project to “enhance sustainable mining” for batteries production.

The companies have signed a contract with the German overseas development support agency— Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)— to launch the pilot in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Democratic Republic of the Congo

BASF to build battery materials plant in Finland

German chemical company BASF is to build a battery materials production plant— its first serving the European automotive market— in Harjavalta, Finland.

The plant will be built adjacent to a nickel and cobalt refinery owned by Russian mining firm Norilsk Nickel (Nornickel), as part of BASF’s €400 million (US$456.2m) multi-step investment plan to supply European battery cell manufacturers with regionally-manufactured cathode materials.

European debut for ESS all-iron flow batteries

All-iron flow batteries from US-based firm Energy Storage Systems’ (ESS) are making their debut in Europe under a contract with German chemicals group BASF.

ESS said two of its 50kw/400kWh ‘Energy Warehouse’ batteries ordered by BASF “set the stage for active market development on the continent”.

all-iron flow batteries

energy storage systems

europe

basf

BASF-Nornickel in talks on raw material supplies for battery production

Russian mining company Norilsk Nickel (Nornickel) has started exclusive negotiations with German chemicals firm BASF to cooperate in the supply of raw materials for future lithium-ion battery production in Europe.

Under the terms of a memorandum of understanding signed by the firms, which was announced on 27 June, BASF intends to invest up to €400 million ($456.6 million) “in a first step” to supply European battery cell producers for electric vehicles with regionally-manufactured cathode materials.

Norilsk Nickel (Nornickel)

BASF steps into advanced carbon materials with EnerG2 buy-out

Global chemistry company BASF is feeding its appetite for promising battery material companies with the purchase of advanced carbon materials manufacturer EnerG2.

It’s the latest in a string of investments made into advanced materials by BASF, who earlier this year licensed battery materials from CAMX Power LLC, then in 2015 launched a joint-venture with Japanese Li-ion firm Toda Kogyo to make cathode materials and licensed NCM technology from the US Argonne National Laboratory.

basf

battery

advanced carbon

materials manufacturer

EnerG2.

BASF sues competitor in lithium-ion patent battle

A billion dollar lithium-ion technology patent battle has begun with four companies embroiled in a US court lawsuit.

The Lawsuit was filed by BASF in US federal court in Delaware amid claims it lost billions of dollars due to alleged criminal behavior by Umicore.

basf

lithium-ion

patent

BASF and Toda Kogyo form new Li-ion firm in Japan

(Left) Dr. Joerg Christian Steck, Representative Director & President of BASF Japan, (Right) Mr. Shigeru Takaragi, President, TODA KOGYO CORP.

Chemical companies BASF and Toda Kogyo have teamed up to launch a joint venture firm based in Japan to manufacture cathode active materials (CAM) for use in lithium-ion batteries.

The company BASF Toda Battery Materials will focus on the research and development, production, marketing and sales for cathode materials for the automotive, consumer electronics, and stationary storage markets.

Pic: (Left) Dr. Joerg Christian Steck, Representative Director & President of BASF Japan, (Right) Mr. Shigeru Takaragi, President, TODA KOGYO CORP.