The UK government has made £25 million ($31.5 million) funding available to support research and development of battery technologies for EV applications.
Open to any UK business or organisation, projects must balance specific technical, market and business requirements for developing emerging technologies and enable UK competitiveness across the battery value chain.
The Faraday Battery Challenge— part of UK Research & Innovation (UKRI)— will invest the cash as part of its Faraday Battery Challenge Round 5 Innovation competition that supports technologies with the potential to enter the automotive market.
The money will be invested (subject to business case approval) into innovative projects particularly those that will deliver breakthrough advances in “sustainable propulsion battery technologies”.
The competition aims to move UK battery innovations from technological potential towards commercial capability and to develop and secure material and manufacturing supply chains for battery technologies in the UK.
Although primarily focused on supporting technologies with the potential to enter the automotive market within the next 10-15 years, the Faraday Battery Challenge will also support technologies that may achieve early or synergistic entry into other sectors on the route to the automotive market.
The organization is also keen to promote other sectors to work alongside automotive to maximise the benefit of the technologies developed in this competition, for example where sectors may share similar battery performance requirements.
Tony Harper, challenge director for the Faraday Battery Challenge, said: “If the UK is to realise its commitment to move to full electrification and zero-emissions vehicles, we must support nascent technologies whilst building and securing a strong UK supply chain that will put the country at the forefront of innovation.
“This new round of funding will enable us to help businesses build partnerships and de-risk innovation across the supply chain, building on the UK’s world class research and innovation and moving the industry forward.”
Eligibility for funding
To be eligible for funding, projects must meet the following criteria:
- Be led by a UK-registered business of any size
- Have total costs between £500,000 and £12 million for CR&D projects or £100,000 and £750,000 for feasibility studies
- Last up to 24 months for CR&D projects or up to 12 months for feasibility studies
- Start on 1st January 2023
- Carry out all project work in the UK
The Faraday Battery Challenge is particularly interested in applications that aim to achieve the following through a combination of innovations in process improvements, cell chemistry, cell to pack efficiency and novel design concepts through:
- High power and high energy density, where safety can enable high performance applications
- Low cost and lower energy density technologies with lower reliance on critical minerals such as cobalt and nickel
- Technologies enabling high cycle life
- Technologies developing sustainable batteries, for example, which improve resource efficiency, reduce energy intensity of processes, or increase recyclability
- Building and securing the UK supply chain
- Development of more efficient and globally competitive manufacturing processes
Organisations must submit their application for funding by 17 August, with successful applicants notified by 29 October.
For further information click HERE