US.

Advanced Battery Concepts (ABC) has launched a residential storage system using lead batteries to address the growing need for emergency power in the US. 

The system, called Home Emergency Energy Storage (HEES), relies on the firm’s patented GreenSeal bipolar batteries.

The HEES system can be situated in about eight-square feet of interior space preferably located near the main circuit box. 

Once installed, storage is downstream from an in-bound electric inverter that helps maintain power storage.

When grid power is lost, the system automatically delivers electricity until grid power is restored. The system can provide up to 6kW and draws upon a storage reserve of 18kWh to power critical loads. Run times can be up to two full days.

The University of Michigan's Ross Business School Multidisciplinary Action Projects (MAP) program helped the company assess and analyse the energy marketplace.

The MAP data, in conjunction with the 12-year development conducted by ABC, led to the invention of the bipolar battery and a state-of-the-art production facility in Clare, Michigan.

ABC’s founder and CEO, Edward Shaffer, said: "We accomplished this in a relatively short period of time thanks to our entire team and through utilisation of our low volume production line designed specifically to supply batteries for the micro-grid energy storage market."

He added: "We recognised a growing need for safe and reliable backup power. We have that. We are taking the same measured and responsible steps we relied on during product development for the roll-out into the market. 

“We will establish distribution within an initially limited geographic area so as to verify the functions and features of this unique energy storage solution. We have invested our time and resources to come this far.”

Bipolar lead battery

ABC's patented GreenSeal batteries' feature bipolar construction enables much greater production efficiencies with less environmental impacts than traditional storage batteries. 

Michael Everett, ABC's chief operating officer, said: "Our GreenSeal battery manufacturing facility in Clare, Michigan, is an advanced proving ground for robust scale manufacturing processes that efficiently enables continuous production of our batteries. 

“GreenSeal manufacturing is reliable, precise, clean and minimises environmental impact of a lead-acid plant to levels unattainable in traditional manufacturing plants. Low investment capital, smaller footprint, much reduced power consumption and significantly improved EH&S considerations.”

You can read more about bipolar batteries in our special report by Dr Mike McDonagh HERE

Electric vehicle and charging firm Proterra has finalised a six-year lithium-ion deal with LG Energy Solution that represents plans for “multiple GWhs of dedicated battery cell capacity” in the US.

The deal extends the firms existing battery-cell supply agreement, and secures Proterra a stable supply of LG Energy Solution (LGES)— a LG Chem subsidiary— battery cells through to 2028. 

The high nickel NCMA cells will be used to manufacture Proterra’s commercial electric vehicle battery systems.

California-based Proterra had to stump up a “nine-figure sum” to secure the long-term supply of lithium-ion cylindrical cells manufactured at Korean-owned LG Energy Solution’s US plant.

Both Proterra and LGES now plan to obtain approval from their board of directors for the agreement by Q4.

Proterra did not confirm the location of the plant that would make the cells when questioned by BEST. 

LGES plans to invest more than $4.5 billion in US manufacturing capacity, including plants in Michigan and Ohio (in conjunction with with General Motors, which is under construction).

LGES is also working on a pilot plant for Tesla’s 4680 prototype lithium-ion cells.

High nickel NCMA cells 

Wonjoon Suh, the senior vice president and the division leader of Mobility and IT Battery Division at LGES, said: “The collaboration between LG Energy Solution and Proterra will act as a critical milestone in seizing America’s eco-friendly commercial vehicle industry, already taking a lead in the global market. 

“LGES will continue to expand our EV battery manufacturing capability in the U.S. and bolster local supply chain to foster clean energy industry in the US.”

Since 2016, Proterra and LG Chem engineering teams have been collaborating to increase cell performance to meet the requirements of commercial vehicle markets. 

The cylindrical cells to be manufactured at the new LGES plants will feature a high nickel NCMA chemistry engineered for commercial vehicle and industrial applications. 

Earlier this month, LGES secured 100% rights to battery-grade nickel and cobalt materials from Australian Mines.

The six-year deal is for mixed hydroxide precipitate (MPH) from the $1.5 billion Sconi Project in North Queensland, in which it will have access to 71,000 tonnes of nickel and 7,000 tonnes of cobalt from the end of 2024.

LGES signed a lithium-ion battery materials off-take deal with Australian firm Vulcan Energy in August for up to 45 metric tonnes of lithium hydroxide over the five-year term of the deal.

LG Energy Solution woes

In June, LGES was forced to extend its safety recall over concerns its lithium-ion powered Resu-branded residential energy storage units installed could overheat and catch on fire.

The affected units were equipped with lithium-ion cells manufactured between March 2017 and September 2018. 

The systems were installed as part of a residential energy solar system, which allowed owners to capture and store energy from solar panels. 

Launched in December, LGES said it had received ‘isolated reports’ about overheating incidents linked to home energy storage system battery installations. 

Energy technology firm Schlumberger New Energy and Panasonic Energy of North America, a division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, have entered into a collaboration agreement to mine lithium in the US.

The agreement covers the validation and optimisation of a lithium extraction and production process used by Schlumberger New Energy at its NeoLith Energy pilot plant in Nevada. 

Panasonic will provide its guidance to validate and optimise the lithium material for battery-grade consumption. 

NeoLith uses a differentiated direct lithium extraction (DLE) process to produce high-purity, battery-grade lithium material while reducing the production time to a few weeks. 

The pilot plant is located 200 miles from Panasonic’s large-scale advanced battery manufacturing operation in Sparks, Nevada.

NeoLith objective will be to pump brine from the subsurface, extract more than 90% of the dissolved lithium, and pump more than 85% of the brine back to the subsurface in an environmentally safe manner. 

In addition to maximising the reinjection of the brine, the ultimate goal is to eliminate the need for any fresh water from an external source and reduce the environmental impact.

Lithium-ion battery recycler facility Li-Cycle has opened a second plant to produce black mass for the battery industry in New York, US.

The Canadian firm’s Spoke 2 facility in Eastman Business Park in Rochester will produce an intermediate mixed battery material product (black mass) from all types of used lithium-ion batteries.

The facility has the capacity to process up to 5,000 tons of lithium-ion batteries per year.

Energy storage system maker Eos Energy Storage has received 1.5GWh of orders for its zinc hybrid cathode battery systems in two US states.

The systems will be manufactured in Pittsburgh, US, by Hi-Power— the firm’s joint venture manufacturing facility co-owned with Holtec International.