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ELBC 2022, Lyon, France
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ELBC 2022: EDITORIAL Mike Halls • editor@batteriesinternational.com
Always winter but never Christmas A rising tide lifts all boats. In recent years that’s been the fundamental proposition justifying a promised boom for the lead battery business. Demand will be such for energy storage, people say, that no one chemistry will be able to satisfy all our needs — all battery technologies will rise on this tide of demand. The basis for this thinking at least is logical. But only in part. Yes, climate change is real. The world needs to decarbonize rapidly. As fossil fuels are replaced with renewable sources of power such as wind or solar, the need to bridge intermittency, when the wind doesn’t blow or the sun shine, will be ever greater. Energy storage will become the new pillar supporting modern society. Batteries will be an essential for transportation, the home, the electrical grid. Everything.
will be valued in the billions of dollars but what percentage of them, at the moment, have lead batteries? Less than 2%. Lithium batteries easily make up the balance. And in the US, which leads the world in the adoption of renewables, battery sales for ESS is firmly being placed with lithium buyers. This is the moment — and ELBC is the venue for us to discuss this — when we need to hear the truth of the matter. For the last five years the standard lead policy line is that we’ll be absolutely vital in the future. But for those of us still caught in midwinter of sales of not spectacular growth, the promise of Christmas seems a long way off. Mike Halls, Editor
But this is where the thinking starts to break down. What if demand for energy storage is not as strong as some people are predicting? What if the electromobility revolution stalls and EV uptake is limited? Most estimates for our energy needs are looking achievable. Analysts’ forecasts continue to show double digit growth for lithium batteries and single growth for lead ones. The huge electrical grid markets of the future www.batteriesinternational.com
Batteries International • ELBC 2022 Show Guide • Summer 2022 • 1
ELBC 2022: CONTENTS
A TRULY IMPORTANT MEETING — WITH MUCH TO DISCUSS This ELBC meeting is different from those of the last few years — and possibly the most important of the previous decade. The energy storage landscape — from automobiles to the electricity grids of the future — is changing rapidly. The last event, because of the Covid pandemic, had to be held as a virtual conference and was not the forum to discuss in depth these issues. The logic behind the ELBC meetings was always meant to be a confluence of displaying the intellectual rigor of advances in lead battery technology and the markets that we operate in, as much as the social business and networking that the industry needs to strive forward. This is the first iteration of a supplement that will be distributed electronically on August 10, updated and released at the end of the month and will be printed and distributed to every delegate at the start of the conference.
EDITORIAL: ALWAYS WINTER BUT NEVER CHRISTMAS
Hmm… when do the good times start to get groovy? 1
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There’s constant talk about the ever-so imminent boom in energy storage but it doesn’t seem to be happening. This needs to be a core topic at this year’s convention.
VIEW FROM THE CHAIR
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Andy Bush, head of ELBC organizer ILA, talks about the necessities of making this year’s ELBC unmissable. It is and will be. His co-organizer Alastair Davidson, director of the Consortium for Battery Innovation, discusses the themes and innovative progress that will be on the agenda this year.
NEWS AHEAD OF ELBC 2022
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Batteries International looks at the news as we approach ELBC 2022.
THE CHINA PERSPECTIVE
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Andy Bush: “making this year an unmissable event” 4
How China’s battery tigers are helping Europe’s nascent battery industry roar.
A TUMULTUOUS DECADE — LEAD BATTERY BUSINESS, 2012-2022
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To the outsider the lead battery business seems to be a tranquil landscape where nothing seems to change very rapidly. But to those in the know, the history of the battery is more a series of torrid episodes resembling scenes from Peyton Place than Little House on the Prairie! It’s also a strange industry. Competitive to its core but gracious in helping competitors when circumstances change.
VIEWPOINT: HOPPECKE: THE ROAD TO 2030
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Marc Zoellner, head of battery firm Hoppecke, discusses the challenges and opportunities for sustainable battery development within European climate policy.
Zoellner: looking for the bright spots in the years ahead 40
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BIENVENUE À LYON! It has been a long time. It is with great anticipation that we look forward to re-connecting with our friends and colleagues at ELBC 2022. In a dynamic market mar environment, ENTEK is leading the way with investments in new technologies and capacity to help our customers build the world’s best batteries globally. Visit with us in Lyon to learn more about our portfolio of separator solutions for today’s batteries, and innovation for tomorrow’s.
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ELBC 2022: VIEW FROM THE CHAIR: ANDY BUSH & ALISTAIR DAVIDSON
Global leadership for a sustainable future The enormous demand for energy storage in the coming years throws up environmental challenges for all battery chemistries says Andy Bush, managing director of the International Lead Association and conference organizer of ELBC.
The EU Batteries Regulation is not without its flaws, and we encourage the legislators to listen to industry to make this a win-win for the environment and the battery sector.
It has been a long time coming, but ELBC is back — and we are looking forward to meeting colleagues from the global lead and lead battery industries again, for the first time in four years. Our theme — lead batteries for the future — could not be more relevant as we continue to see a surge in demand for battery energy storage across many different products and applications. This enormous increase in demand cannot be met by a single technology that requires unprecedented amounts of critical raw materials that are sourced from areas of the world that are impacted by geopolitical and environmental, social and governance issues. The extraction and processing of crucial resources such as lithium is concentrated in a small number of countries. About one-tenth of all nickel comes from Russia. These issues do not only impact availability but drive-up prices. Establishing recycling targets and mandating a minimum recycled content for lithium-ion batteries will not on its own fix this problem and coun-
Lyon comes full circle: home to André-Marie Ampère and now host to ELBC
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tries must better recognise that a mix in battery technologies will be necessary. We believe that low cost, safe and sustainable advanced lead batteries manufactured from a strategically autonomous and locally-sourced recycled raw material must ultimately be part of the solution and will drive strong future growth in energy storage applications. ELBC’s packed program will explore this topic, among others, through a mix of important technical updates as well as topical input on markets and business assessments from influential manufacturers and analysts. The challenge, and the opportunity, is the same as ever. We must continue to innovate and demonstrate how our high-quality, reliable and cost-effective solutions will support greater electrification and decarbonisation. And we must continue to burnish our credentials as a responsible global industry. ELBC will help demonstrate to customers, stakeholders and policy-makers alike just how critical advanced lead batteries are to providing solutions and helping deliver reliable, safe and low cost energy storage. Communicating these benefits clearly to a global audience requires an organisation that is firmly set on supporting a sustainable future for lead. And that is ILA’s leadership role. None of the battery innovation and market growth we aspire to will be possible if the regulatory landscape in Europe or the United States creates excessive barriers for battery manufacturers or their suppliers, or worse. The EU Batteries Regulation due to be adopted next year will establish a new European regulatory landscape for batteries that will last for decades. This text, that for the first time covers the full lifecycle of batteries — from sourcing of raw materials to recycling
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ELBC 2022: VIEW FROM THE CHAIR: ANDY BUSH & ALISTAIR DAVIDSON — is ambitious and designed to promote the adoption of truly sustainable energy storage solutions. However, it is not without its flaws, and we encourage the legislators to listen to industry to make this a winwin for the environment and the battery sector. We will continue to play an important role advocating for proportionate regulation based upon risk rather than hazard but companies in the battery value chain must continue to play their role
by adopting the most effective measures to protect people and the environment. Whilst most responsible operators embrace this challenge, we are still reminded that informal and dangerous battery recycling practices still prevail in some regions. These practices must be phased out which is why we were delighted this year to join the Protecting Every Child’s Potential partnership, a public-private partnership that is mobilising action to abolish dangerous practices that result in harmful lead exposure.
Alongside the formal technical program, ELBC is the event where many important conversations and discussions take place, through our networking events, between manufacturers, suppliers, analysts and many more besides — all of us working together to support a sustainable future for our industry. I am delighted that once again ELBC is back and in person — and I hope you enjoy a productive and inspiring conference.
Accelerating the speed of battery evolution Alistair Davidson, director of the Consortium for Battery Innovation and co-organizer of this year’s ELBC, highlights the role that CBI is playing within battery development. The Consortium for Battery Innovation is now in its fourth year and our membership, research programs and project work continue to grow apace. Our membership base now stands at 110 members or partners, and we are delighted that this is our first ELBC as co-organizers with ILA. We will be showcasing our extensive work program at ELBC, as well as introducing new elements to the schedule including the electric vehicle workshop, highlighting the essential role of auxiliary lead batteries in the e-mobility transformation. We are also presenting a new concept, the battery academy, a workshop designed to give attendees an immersive understanding of the fundamentals of lead battery technology. All this sits alongside our extensive work schedule, which a current technical program targeting goals set in our new technical roadmap, government-funded research, and a suite of work avenues focused on energy storage applications. There are many global market opportunities in battery energy storage which we think the lead battery industry is best-placed to exploit — from renewables for energy storage to grid stabilization. Our analysis has indicated that
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there is a huge potential market for lead batteries in energy storage — conservatively a potential multibillion dollar market. We will be exploring these opportunities in more depth in our forthcoming work program. The CBI team is involved in a range of new government-funded projects, soon to be announced, from supporting sustainable battery microgrids in Africa with trailblazing technology, supported by the EU and other funding streams, to projects in the United States working alongside the US military, and Argonne National Laboratory. Our Battery Match service, launched last year, puts specifiers looking to develop energy storage solutions in touch with battery manufacturers and advises them on the best options for their project. CBI’s core research and performance activities are driven through our second technical roadmap, which sets goals for research and performance to ensure advanced lead batteries continue to improve. Underpinning our technical work we continue to explore all of the potential market growth opportunities as demand for battery energy storage continues to grow. As a global organisation maintain a high profile and keeping members
There is a huge potential market for lead batteries in energy storage — conservatively a potential multi-billion dollar market. We will be exploring these opportunities in more depth in our forthcoming work program and other stakeholders informed about our work is vital and we have expanded our own communications and marketing activity to include much wider engagement on social media channels. Above all ELBC is an important event for our members – and potential new members – to discuss all of the latest research developments and market opportunities. I look forward to seeing you.
Batteries International • ELBC 2022 Show Guide • Summer 2022 • 5
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NEWS AHEAD OF ELBC 2022
Hammond welcomes Bisaillon as Goodearl moves on Brad Bisaillon has been appointed as vice president of sales for the Hammond Group, the company announced on June 14. Meanwhile, Ray Goodearl has left as director of marketing and global accounts to become vice president of strategic accounts at Indic Group Holdings. Bisaillon, who most recently held positions with American Battery Solutions, Nokian Heavy Tyres and Trojan Battery Company, will lead Hammond’s efforts to support global battery manufacturers in producing a new generation of advanced lead batteries, the firm said. Goodearl is a well-known and popular figure in the power battery energy systems industry having spent most of his working life in the business. He joined Hammond three years ago from NorthStar Battery where he was a director of national accounts. Before that he was international vice president for sales and marketing at Superior Battery. Goodearl said: “I’m very thankful for the time I had at Hammond, the entire team was amazing to work with
and we did great things for our customers.” Hammond president and CEO Terry Murphy said Bisaillon, whose expertise spans power generation and energy storage in both the lead acid and lithium ion segments, would “strengthen relationships with our existing customers and develop new relationships with customers in emerging markets”. Bisaillon said: “Advanced lead batteries, incorporating Hammond’s performance additives, along with many other significant changes in battery configurations, have dramatically improved charge acceptance and cycle life. “The new generation of advanced lead batteries that are being manufactured by our customers offer a more sensible and sustainable alternative to expensive, complex and difficult to integrate lithium-ion systems for the rapid expansion in the motive power, telecom, and energy storage sectors.” Goodearl will continue to be an active member of the Data Book, Technical, and Product Information
Brad Bisaillon
Committees within Battery Council International as will his work on the Start-Stop and Starter Battery Committees within SAE. In October 2021, Hammond named its new award-winning acid stratification reducing, battery life extending additive GravityGuard, after winning the BCI Innovation Award a month earlier.
Stevenson named new Alpha/Beta member The Alpha/Beta Society, an informal group of members who have made outstanding contributions to the development of the lead acid battery industry, has appointed Mark Stevenson as its 29th member, according to Juergen Garche, speaking at the AABC meetings in Mainz in June.
Mark Stevenson
“Mark has had a long and highly impressive career spanning four decades of work in secondary lead — he is a world-leading expert in his field — and we are pleased that his achievements should be recognized.” he said. Mark Stevenson, who is also the prime mover behind the Asia Battery Conference, is a well-known and well-liked figure in the battery industry with some four decades of experience. In an industry more focused on the manufacture of lead batteries, his expertise has been their successful destruction and recycling. “I very much appreciate the honour that the Alpha Beta members have bestowed on me,” said Stevenson. “This society has a huge and global range of expertise; it would be wonderful if we could pass the baton of their knowledge on to the next generation and mould this into a lead and battery college for the future.” David Rand said: “As the co-found-
8 • Batteries International • ELBC 2022 Show Guide • Summer 2022
er of the Alpha-Beta Society, I am delighted to receive the very good news that Mark Stevenson has been inducted into this prestigious fraternity. Without doubt, Mark is an unrivalled expert in the metallurgy of lead and its use in lead-acid batteries. In addition, over the years, he has been the power behind the outstanding success of the Asian Battery Conference. “I am sure that Mark will make sure that the Society will be a much -required resource in the future.” The Alpha-Beta Society was cofounded by Ernst Voss (Varta) and David Rand (CSIRO) in 1989. The object was for lead battery scientists to collaborate in grappling with the ever-emerging demands that new applications place upon the science of lead batteries. An awards ceremony honouring Stevenson will take place at the ELBC congress in Lyon, France in September.
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NEWS AHEAD OF ELBC 2022
Lead batteries still a driving force says Bush at ILZDA webinar The automotive market is set to be a “major driver” for lead demand up to and beyond 2030, ILA managing director Andy Bush told a February 18 webinar hosted by the India Lead Zinc Development Association. Bush told the webinar — ‘Global Outlook for Lead & Zinc 2022 & Beyond’ — research from Avicenne Energy indicated that the auto market was experiencing “significant transition” that would benefit lead. “Lead batteries are expected to dominate this market up to 2030 and beyond and that is going to be a major driver for lead demand through 2030 and beyond,” Bush said. “There is significant growth in micro hybrids, which represents a significant and growing market for lead worldwide. “Europe has led the way for the adoption of micro hybrids, followed by the US and other regions of the world, which are adopting them at different paces.” Bush warned more work would be needed to ensure lead batteries continued to meet performance requirements for micro and mild hybrid vehicles — requirements that he said was “comfortably attainable for lead batteries and, critically obtainable at a much lower cost than lithium batteries”. And despite the growth of the electric vehicles market, Bush said the implications for lead were still positive. “EV market penetration forecasts vary substantially, but we tend to
use Avicenne’s scenarios, which predict a market penetration for lead of maybe 20% by 2030 into the new vehicle market.” “Avicenne also, critically, predicts that EVs will continue to use 12V auxiliary lead batteries and that’s something that we also feel confident will continue,” Bush said. “And we mustn’t forget that roughly 80% of the 12V market is the aftermarket, so lead battery demand is really baked in… whether that’s in EVs or combustion engine vehicles. “We don’t see lead batteries being replaced in either of those markets for the foreseeable future.” Bush acknowledged there was “still work to do” to improve the performance of auxiliary batteries for EVs, to ensure they “remain the technology of choice in the future”. Meanwhile, lead batteries are a “strong contender” to flourish in the energy storage sector, particularly for the residential market, which is expected to see massive growth in demand “even by conservative forecasts”, Bush said. Smaller-scale industrial applications up to 10MW are also “sweet spots” for lead batteries, he added. “Even if lead batteries only take a relatively small share of that market, it will represent a significant demand for lead in the future. The question is what does it take to achieve that, because lead currently has a very small share there.” Increased research to improve the performance of batteries, especially
in terms of calendar and cycle life and efficiency, without increasing costs, is also key and is something CBI is focused on. But Bush reiterated ongoing challenges — such as policy and legislative threats posed to the lead industry in Europe. The US market is also “entering an active period of legislative reform on lead”, Bush warned. “Critically, there is a lack of any substantive market substitution legislation unlike Europe”. “But longer term we have to recognize that, as an industry globally, there will be pressure to substitute hazardous materials in general, including lead, and so we need to keep that under constant review.” In traditional markets, telecoms continues to be dominated by lead batteries and demand is expected to remain stable. Lead is also expected to eat further into the UPS market, where Bush said Avicenne predicts growth of around 1.5% through to 2030. Motive power is “the most challenging” market for lead batteries, with forecasts of a 2% decline of the lead share of that market up to 2030, with lithium making greater inroads. But that does not take into account “the enormous potential for lead batteries in e-bikes and e-trikes”, Bush said. According to estimates from CHR Metals’ Huw Roberts, about 2.5 million tonnes of lead is going into that market annually.
Lambert plans Wirtz retirement
Doug Lambert
Doug Lambert, Vice President of Sales and Technology for Wirtz Manufacturing, has confirmed the LinkedIn announcement earlier in July that he is planning to retire “in the next six to nine months”. Lambert has been involved in the battery industry since February 1977. Lambert (pictured), who is a well known, well liked and respected figure in the
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lead battery industry, as well as a popular conference speaker, says he does not intend to retire completely. “I don’t intend to leave the business but will continue as a part-time consultant for Wirtz,” he says. “This is an industry and a family that I’ve loved and cared for my entire working life. I am still passionate about the lead battery
technology and believe that it still has a long future, I don’t ever want to walk away from it completely”. “Wirtz and I have been planning this move since the start of the year,” says Lambert, “and we intend to make the transition of my position as smooth as possible to my successor.” Lambert has worked for Wirtz since 2011. Before that he spent 12 years as an independent lead battery consultant.
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NEWS AHEAD OF ELBC 2022
Gridtential to develop pilot biplate line with Hammond and Wirtz Gridtential Energy announced midJuly that it will partner Hammond Group and Wirtz Manufacturing to develop a pilot manufacturing line to produce the biplate at the heart of its bipolar battery at Hammond’s facilities in Indiana. This, it says, will help simplify the production process for battery manufacturers trying to integrate the firm’s bipolar technology, known as Silicon Joule, into their manufacturing facilities. “Together, the companies will develop and produce the biplate inside a Silicon Joule battery that greatly simplifies the production process for battery makers, combining time-consuming steps and saving the production cost of stacking and adding active materials,” said a Gridtential statement. “Our 15 current development partners will be able buy biplates directly and incorporate them into their volume factory lines. The biplates will be the first ready-made component for Silicon Joule-enabled batteries. “The partnerships with Hammond and Wirtz will merge three production steps our partners would have to take into a single, ready-made product.” Terry Murphy, CEO of Hammond Group, said: “We’re very excited about
the potential bipolar configurations have for the lead battery industry. Bipolar batteries made by Gridtential as well as ABC work. This is a proven technology and huge leap forward bringing higher performance leadbased batteries to compete with lithium ion technologies.” Gridtential CEO John Barton said: “Our ready-made biplate solutions speed up the commercialization timeline for many of our partners, and we are targeting 2023 or 2024 for commercial production launch.” Gridtential’s development partners have yet to solve the mass mechanization of its Silicon Joule, technology, which deploys fragile silicon wafers into their high-volume lines. In April 2021, Gridtential said it was ready to launch a series of AGM batteries produced on a prototype line at East Penn Manufacturing. In November 2019 Gridtential said it was in the middle of what it called the ‘industrialization’ of its technology — effectively converting what can be done manually into automated processes to achieve the costs and process control such advanced batteries will need. The first part, high-speed precision pasting onto a carrier rather than a
John Barton
grid, had then been accomplished using pasting tools developed by Wirtz Manufacturing. In October 2019, the firm presented a manual assembly of the battery at Crown Battery to MAC Engineering, Sovema Group, TBS Engineering and Wirtz. The objective was to let mainstream equipment companies see firsthand the components and sequencing needed in planning a high-speed assembly line.
ABC, Monbat unveil bipolar mass production plans Advanced Battery Concepts and Monbat announced plans on June 9 to develop a commercial bipolar battery for mass production in an investment deal worth around €16 million ($17 million). The partners said they were aiming to design a battery based on ABC’s GreenSeal technology for production at a future 1GWh Monbat facility to be built in Bulgaria. The announcement came after ABC said in December 2018 it had given licensing rights for its GreenSeal technology to Monbat.
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Under the latest agreement, in the first stage of their development program, ABC will produce the so-called ‘Alpha Samples’ of Block B batteries at its plant in Michigan. Block B is a 48V, 32Ah industrial battery aimed at telecoms and BESS applications. The batteries will be delivered to existing Monbat clients and special projects requiring BESS for on-site deployment — which the firms say will supply the data needed for future mass production. Monbat says it has intensively tested prototype
Block B batteries since 2019 in its certified testing laboratories. Ed Shaffer, founder of ABC, said: “Monbat’s aggressive adoption of the GreenSeal technology for next generation products is important for more than just economic reasons.” While the bottom-line results are important to Monbat’s business, additional benefits for both sides include providing “environmentally, socially, and economically responsible” energy storage products and solutions, Shaffer said. Monbat CEO Viktor Spiriev said the company was
“determined to become the first mass-scale producer of bipolar lead-acid batteries in the world”. Monbat says it is the fourth largest lead-acid battery producer in Europe. The company has manufacturing facilities in Bulgaria and Tunisia and recycling plants in Romania, Serbia and Italy. On May 2, ABC received Battery Council International’s 2022 innovation award in recognition of the company’s Home Emergency Energy Storage System, which builds on the firm’s GreenSeal technology.
Batteries International • ELBC 2022 Show Guide • Summer 2022 • 11
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NEWS AHEAD OF ELBC 2022
Industry steps up calls to drop ‘lithium hazard’ classification Investments in both the lead and lithium battery sectors in Europe are now at risk, with a leading global chemicals producer warning that new draft proposals designating certain materials as ‘hazardous’ could choke-off financial backing at a crucial time for the EU. European battery industry chiefs urged EU leaders on July 4 to reject draft proposals that could mean the lithium used in electric vehicle batteries is designated as a hazardous material. EUROBAT and Recharge — the European industry association for advanced rechargeable and lithium batteries — joined battery material producers in writing a letter to express “deep concern” about the proposals by the European Chemicals Agency’s Committee for Risk Assessment* (RAC). Those proposals suggest lithium carbonate, chloride and hydroxide should receive a ‘Category 1A’ (a known human carcinogen) classification. In the letter to top EU commissioners including Frans Timmermans, EU executive vice-president for the Green New Deal and Maroš Šefčovič, vice president for strategic foresight, industry leaders said “the scientific evidence is too weak and does not justify such a severe classification, which would have a major impact on Europe’s industrial goals for electric vehicles, batteries, and critical raw materials”. The letter called on the European Commission to reject a Category 1A
classification for the three lithium salts and urges a “re-evaluation at the scientific level”. “An unjustified lithium salts classification will be a red flag that brings great uncertainty to companies looking to make long-term investments into European refining and recycling capacity, risking delays or different investment decisions towards competing markets,” the letter said. The letter came after US-based speciality chemicals producer, Albemarle, told BI in June that the classification “would have a negative impact on the possibility of establishing lithium conversion plants in Europe”. Albemarle said that if the proposals went ahead, “lithium carbonate and hydroxide could be processed outside of Europe and then imported, with negative effects on European strategic autonomy”. “Inappropriate classification of the three lithium salts would create business uncertainty on which markets could be served, for which applications, but also on the industrial processes and which safety measures and plant requirements would apply, deterring investors from committing to Europe at a crucial time for the entire lithium value chain. Investors could therefore find other markets more attractive.” “Similar limitations on investments would likely occur for the recycling of waste batteries and lithium-rich slag, due to regulatory uncertainty caused
by this classification.” Asked whether the proposals put the future of Albemarle’s Langelsheim plant in Germany at risk, the company said: “While the impact to our speciality customers is unclear at this point, we do not anticipate closure of Langelsheim.” However, Albemarle said several of Langelsheim’s industrial customers do not use any other 1A substances and “would be forced to implement very strict rules to control the substance or look for alternatives, which are often not available or less performing”. This would have a “direct impact on the plant revenue, which will already have to face higher operating costs compared to non-EU competitors due to the proposed classification”. In March, a report published jointly by EUROBAT and industries representing manufacturers of batteries, ceramic frits and complex inorganic colour pigments, lubricants and greases and vehicles, said the three lithium salts were “fundamental and irreplaceable building blocks for the shift to electric mobility, the integration of renewables in the energy mix and more generally the achievement of the Green Deal objectives”. *The RAC’s ‘Opinion proposing harmonised classification and labelling at EU level of lithium carbonate, lithium chloride and lithium hydroxide’ are being considered by EU member states, with responses expected to be made later in the year.
Monbat managers acquire shares to secure near 21% group stake The senior management team of Monbat has secured a 20.78% stake in the lead batteries group and pledged to further develop operations, Monbat announced in a June 28 regulatory filing. The six-member management team buy-in acquired shares, for an undisclosed sum, that were disposed of by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and CEE-
CAT Capital. EBRD and CEECAT sold their shares in Prista HoldCo Cooperative, which had held the 20.78% stake in Monbat, to HoldCo Investment — which is indirectly owned via EKIP Monbat by the six managers. A Monbat spokesperson told BI the six who share the stake equally are CEO Viktor Spiriev, board chairman Chavdar Danev, COO Peter
14 • Batteries International • ELBC 2022 Show Guide • Summer 2022
Boyadjiev, procurator and Montana plant manager Peter Hristov, sales director starter battery division Vili Kamenov, and industrial battery division manager Bozhidar Nekeziev. Monbat’s majority shareholders, who hold a 49% stake, continue to be Atanas Bobokov and Plamen Bobokov, the spokesperson said. CEO Spiriev said: “Taking the next step and now be-
ing further vested as shareholders, the management of Monbat is fully committed to the future development of the group. “During our involvement as management, Monbat has become one of the five largest manufacturers of lead acid batteries in Europe, and has also launched and expanded operations in Romania, Serbia, Italy, Germany and Tunisia.”
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NEWS AHEAD OF ELBC 2022
Ecobat silent on Stolberg future after sale to Trafigura Group Nyrstar, the new operator of German lead production plant Stolberg, told BI on July 21 there would be a “continuous assessment” of the potential for future investment in the site — but declined to be drawn on the plant’s future. Nyrstar’s parent company, the Trafigura Group, announced earlier in the month it had entered into a binding agreement to acquire Ecobat Resources Stolberg (ERS), which owns the Stolberg multi-metals processing plant. Stolberg will be operated and managed by Nyrstar, a multi-metals mining and smelting company, which is
a market leader in the production of zinc and lead metal. But a Nyrstar spokesperson declined to discuss plans for the primary lead smelter site, which has been out of action since declaring force majeure last year after devasting floods in Europe. Asked if there will be new investment in the site, particularly in terms of lead and lithium battery recycling, the spokesperson said: “The first priority will be the execution of the current business strategy for the Stolberg business. “Going forward, we will assess on a continuous basis how this might evolve as we
Campine acquires Recyclex for €3.5m Belgian metals recycling and speciality chemicals group Campine acquired French lead recycler Recyclex on July 7 for around €3.5 million ($3.5 million). The move came after the Paris Commercial Court approved Campine’s offer to take over Recyclex’s lead battery recycling plants in Escaudoeuvres and Villefranche-sur-Saône, as well as the plastics recycling company C2P — a Recyclex subsidiary also operating at Villefranche. Campine’s bid was one of several announced on April 15 for parts of Recyclex, after the French group failed to organize an amicable debt restructuring process under an assets disposal program launched in May 2021. None of Recyclex’s debt liabilities have been transferred to Campine and a ‘Recyclex SA’ entity will continue to exist under insolvency proceedings in a bid to agree a debt restructuring process — which the entity has said
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is still “very uncertain”. Campine also plans to invest between €8 million and €10 million across all three factories over the next four years. Recyclex posted annual sales for 2021 of around €88 million for the assets acquired by Campine. The two lead battery recycling sites employ around 60 and have a recycling capacity of some 90,000 tonnes of used batteries and 11,000 tonnes of polypropylene plastic waste. The acquisition is a substantial upstream expansion of Campine’s battery recycling scope and adds recycled plastics as an additional material output, the company said. Campine CEO Wim De Vos said: “This is a huge step for us. Campine is now really a multi-material recycling enterprise. With the addition of the two battery breaker plants, we also realise a next step towards a higher material recovery rate in our waste recycling processes.”
optimize opportunities and leverage synergies between the Nyrstar businesses.” Stolberg has only produced about 100 kt/a for the past few years of full production, as it has been focused on optimizing the type of throughput rather than maxing out on tonnage, said lead commentator Farid Ahmed. “It refurbished and expanded its silver plant a few years ago and wants to get as much by-product value out of that, which means taking more complex feed which doesn’t work through the whole smelting process so quickly.” Financial details of the acquisition, which is expected to be completed in the third quarter of this year, were not disclosed.
Nyrstar and Trafigura have a long history of rarely giving out information about their activities, be this commercially sensitive or not. ERS was founded in 1848 and has one of the largest and most modern primary lead smelters in the world, according to Ecobat. The facility has the capacity to produce 155,000 tonnes of lead and more than 100 different specifications of market-leading lead alloys and produce 130,000 tonnes of sulphuric acid. Ecobat CEO Marcus Randolph said the sale was “consistent with our strategy to concentrate on our core business of battery recycling and represents a significant step in the rationalization of our portfolio”.
BCI calls for new standards for battery labels Battery Council International urged US environment chiefs on July 11 to strengthen battery collection and recycling processes and to raise the standards of labelling for all battery chemistry products. BCI’s call came in response to a June 9 request for information from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on how to develop best practices for battery collection, recycling and labelling. BCI has long campaigned for better practices governing the labelling and collection of lead and lithium batteries. The addition of lithium batteries into a lead battery breaker causes potential fatal explosions when sulfuric acid mixes with lithium. However, BCI warned it would be “counterproductive to adopt guidelines or requirements that could in-
terrupt the existing, extremely successful, and industryfunded retail collection network for lead batteries”. BCI said improved labelling would reduce the crosscontamination in recycling that leads to safety hazards, increased processing costs, and reduces the quality of recovered materials. The trade body said all batteries, regardless of chemistry, should have labels “with a consistent and simple marking to encourage and aid recycling”. On the lead battery industry’s recycling record, the EPA acknowledged that lead acid batteries “are manufactured with antimony, a critical mineral, and are currently recycled at a high rate” The EPA stressed that its focus was on improvements for battery chemistries that have a lower recovery level of critical minerals.
Batteries International • ELBC 2022 Show Guide • Summer 2022 • 15
NEWS AHEAD OF ELBC 2022
ACE Green Recyling to produce US lead in 2023 says VP Ahmed
Lead analyst Farid Ahmed, the newly-appointed vice president of global strategy and business development for ACE Green Recycling, has told BI the company is on track to produce refined lead in the US towards the end of next year. Some industry commentators say that the hydrometallurgical process for battery recycling is fraught with potential commercial and technical
difficulties, making such projects unfeasible (see Batteries International issue No.121). However, the lead and lithium batteries recycling company ACE expects production to start at the plant it is building in Texas around the fourth-quarter of 2023, says Ahmed (pictured) — until recently an analyst with Wood Mackenzie. And Ahmed said he looked forward to making a “bigger contribution to the sustainability and perpetuity of the lead industry while also gaining a footing in the lithium-ion sector”. ACE unveiled plans on May 10 to build and operate what it claims will be an “electric-powered, emissionfree” lead and lithium batteries recycling facility in Texas. To date, the US-registered company has been cautious about releasing details of the technology it has developed, which Ahmed said is with good reason. ACE lists five battery recycling projects on its website, including Texas, as “coming soon” but is starting to disclose information such as the projected annual recycling capacities of 100,000 tonnes of lead batteries and 20,000 tonnes of Li-ion batteries at its Texas facility. “There is a delicate balance between having your IP and processes fully protected by patents and dis-
Banks in loans boost for Sunlight’s expansion plans The Sunlight Group has received €275 million ($286 million) funding from Greek banks to support its expansion of lead and lithium production and R&D, the company announced on June 24. Sunlight said the financial backing was in the form of seven-year loans and would form part of plans unveiled on May 11. The loans will support plant upgrades and an expansion of production capacity and assembly lines in the company’s Xanthi facilities in Greece, Italy and in the US to boost output of both lithium ion and lead batteries and energy storage systems.
Sunlight said the loans would also enhance production of innovative motive power lead acid battery cells, with the installation of the latest automated production and assembly equipment. The €275 million loan agreements comprise a €125 million syndicated loan from Eurobank and Alpha Bank (€62.5 million each) and a €150 million loan from the National Bank of Greece. The announcement followed Sunlight’s pledge in September 2021 to spend €50 million to expand its lead and lithium manufacturing unit in Xanthi.
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cussing processes openly,” Ahmed said. “I have known the company for more than a year and I have seen their very detailed process mass balance models and scrutinising all that gave me the confidence to accept the offer to join the company. Its technology is built on sound foundations.” ACE developed what it described as a small commercial plant in India, near Delhi, where Ahmed said customers saw the lead recycling facility in operation. “With the lead recycling process having been proven, the equipment has now been disassembled and a lithium recycling plant is being built there to demonstrate and optimise that technology,” Ahmed said. Meanwhile, Ahmed said the firm is constructing equipment for two major Asian lead recyclers, which is due for delivery in August and slated to be producing lead by late September. ACE recently established a UK entity, through which Ahmed works and which will focus on EMEA and global markets as the company develops partnerships in lithium battery recycling. Ahmed has worked in and around the metals industry since graduating with a degree in Metallurgy in the mid-1980s and has specialized in lead since 1992. He worked in R&D of platinum group metals for Johnson Matthey in the late 1980s and moved into lead in the early 1990s, working initially as a production metallurgist at Britannia Refined Metals before moving into the commercial sector of that company. From the mid-2000s, he worked as a consultant to the lead industry, spanning the whole vertical sector from raw materials, production and processing to specialist sales, product development and market analysis. He joined Wood Mackenzie in 2015. Ahmed discusses ACE’s long-term business plans in detail in the upcoming summer edition of Batteries International magazine. If you’re not already a subscriber, click here for details of our range of print and digital newsletters and magazines.
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NEWS AHEAD OF ELBC 2022
Metair expects strong lead sales despite Turkish economy woes Lead and lithium group Metair reported strong production and sales of automotive batteries across the countries that mostly comprise its battery businesses, in a voluntary halfyear update issued on July 20. But the company told the Johannesburg Stock Exchange its formal interim results announcement will be delayed until around September 14. This is because the firm will review figures in relation to its Mutlu Akü batteries operation in Turkey — which has been designated a hyperinflationary economy by the International Monetary Fund and leading accounting firms. Mutlu Akü accounted for nearly ZAR4 billion ($237 million) of Metair’s turnover in the financial year
ended December 31, 2021. The company said this represented about 31% of group turnover while 55% “was directly linked to hard currencies (US dollars or euros) through direct export and OEM sales, growing both volumes and price in the first half of 2022”. Metair said it was reviewing the impact on its results of International Accounting Standard 29, which provides guidance on financial reporting on currencies of hyperinflationary economies. However, Metair said its energy storage division, which includes Mutlu Akü, Rombat in Romania and First National Battery in South Africa, continued to perform well despite tough operating conditions including high energy and
labour costs in Europe and Turkey. Demand for lead acid batteries remained strong in all markets, especially in Turkey, despite the hyperinflationary economy classification for accounting periods ending on or after June 30, the company said. Cumulative inflation rates in Turkey over a three-year period exceeded 100% as at April 2022, Metair said. Export sales are earned in hard currency and provide a natural hedge to limit the impact of foreign exchange volatility and inflationary pressures, Metair said. Meanwhile, Mutlu Akü will be the driving force behind an expected overall group production total of around four million automotive batteries produced in the first half of 2022,
Metair said. The Turkish operation increased its export volumes by more than 40%, compared to the six-month period ended June 30, 2021, despite a 10-day labour wage strike at Mutlu Akü during June, which has been settled. Production from Rombat is expected to be at least 10% lower than the yearago period, mainly because of “dampened consumer confidence” from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In results for the past full year reported on March 17, the company posted increases in revenue and operating profit as its businesses, which include automotive components, generated a 23% increase in overall revenue from the previous year to ZAR12.62 billion.
Lead industry welcomes Ghana action on batteries stewardship The ILA said on May 3 it welcomed new procedures published by Ghana’s government to improve battery recycling operations in the West African nation. The new standard operating procedures (SOPs) were developed in cooperation with organizations including the ILA, Battery Council International, EUROBAT and with the Sustainable Recycling Industries and the Material Stewardship Program of the global lead and lead battery industries. Lydia Essuah, director of policy, planning, monitoring and evaluation at Ghana’s Ministry for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, said: “We will make low-quality battery recycling a thing
of the past in Ghana. Lead acid battery recycling is a lucrative industry, so we expect all recyclers to meet the technical guidelines.” Selina Amoah, a deputy director at Ghana’s Environmental Protection Agency, said the SOPs and technical guidelines had been drawn up to ensure they could be widely understood and implemented. The SOPs would also serve “as an additional tool for regulators to promote sound practices in the sector, which will lead to reduction in the risks to the environment and public health”, Amoah said. ‘Facing challenges’ According to the ILA, improper recycling of lead acid batteries remains a
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problem in many low- and middle-income countries, causing pollution, with potentially serious impacts on the environment and human health. ILA regulatory affairs director Steve Binks said: “We are positive about the developments and hope that the transition to a sound battery recycling industry will continue. Other countries face similar challenges, and we hope that the SOPs will not only be used in Ghana, but also shared with, and applied in other settings.” The SOPs, which are available online, were developed over 18 months in a project coordinated by Sustainable Recycling Industries and experts from the Mountain Research In-
stitute, the Ghana National Cleaner Production Center and the Oeko-Institut — guided by the Ghana’s EPA, Factory Inspectorate Department and other regional and international experts. In 2020, a global alliance of lead and battery associations condemned all informal lead battery recycling in response to a report launched by the international children’s charity Unicef, on July 30, which said a third of the world’s children were victims of lead poisoning. Unicef said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in November 2021 that it would begin testing people — with a focus on children — for blood levels in the country.
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Battery industry leaders join forces to protect children Four battery associations representing the entire lead battery value chain are joining the Protecting Every Child’s Potential (PECP) initiative. This was founded in October 2020 by battery manufacturer Clarios, Unicef and Pure Earth, a US non-profit organization to help protect children’s health from lead exposure globally. The International Lead Association, Battery Council International, Association of Battery Recyclers and EUROBAT are joining PECP as part of their joint Material Stewardship Project. All four associations will work to help ensure children in low and middleincome countries— where regulatory controls are
often absent — are not exposed to lead. They will provide assistance, including pro bono technical support, to help regulators and businesses in low and middle-income countries to adopt global best practices — building on existing projects around the world supported by the ILA and BCI. The associations have already established a global programme to create a sustainable future by championing best practices in lead mining, lead production, lead battery manufacturing and recycling, and by encouraging responsible practices through supply chain management and product stewardship. BCI executive vice president Roger Miksad said:
ILA to support Basel review of lead battery recycling standards The ILA is to join an international review of battery recycling standards under the Basel Convention. ILA’s special adviser, Brian Wilson, attended the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) of the Basel Convention in Geneva, which met from June 6-17 to discuss the need to update existing technical guidelines for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of used lead batteries. At the COP, which was attended by more than 1,500 delegates from 200 countries, it was agreed that a special technical group would be set up to review and update the guidelines. The group will also review the need to introduce and prepare guidelines for responsibly recycling other battery technologies. The Basel Convention’s secretariat approved the
ILA’s request to nominate Wilson to provide technical assistance to the group. Speaking after the meeting, Wilson said: “There was universal support for the request to update the technical guidance for lead battery recycling. The technical contact group also noted differences between batteries in terms of their management, recycling and safe disposal including the fact that technologies for disposing of, or recycling lithium ion batteries are still emerging.” Steve Binks, ILA regulatory affairs director, said the trade body’s work with the group was “an important part of our commitment to safe and responsible battery recycling in low and middleincome countries”. “The Basel technical guidelines are the recognized standard and ILA will now contribute to updating them.”
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“We believe the learnings of the North American industry can be adapted and shared with others through knowledge transfer to improve on-the-ground conditions in many targeted communities.” ILA managing director Andy Bush said PECP was aligned closely with the association’s own mate-
rial stewardship activities, “promoting the adoption of safe and responsible battery recycling in all regions of the world”. EUROBAT executive director Rene Schroeder said PCP “brings the industry’s efforts for sound battery recycling to the next level and we are thrilled to be a part of the campaign”.
Banner marks 85 years in batteries business Banner Batterien has marked 85 years in the battery manufacturing business with an anniversary celebration for staff. More than 500 employees, including some 200 from the company’s 13 sales organisations, joined the event at Banner’s headquarters in Leonding, the firm announced on June 14. The anniversary celebration was the first major gathering of staff since the lifting of pandemic restrictions and a number of long-serving members of the workforce were honoured during the event. Banner’s roots branch back
to when company founder, Artur Bawart, launched a small business in the 1930s and Banner became involved in the battery business in 1937. Today, the firm is Austria’s only car battery producer and counts itself as being among the industry’s five largest manufacturers in Europe. The company owners and cousins are commercial CEO Andreas Bawart and Technical CEO Thomas Bawart. On May 24, Banner reported an uptick in sales to €286 million ($307 million) in annual results after what it said was a challenging year.
New Italy AGM line for Ahlstrom-Munksjö Fibre-based materials producer Ahlstrom-Munksjö said on April 7 it had started production of an absorbent glass mat line in Italy. The Finland-headquartered firm said the line is at its plant in Turin, where it has invested in additional manufacturing capacity for filtration and energy storage materials — although it did not give investment or production details. The AGM line will serve applications where glass microfiber media
is required, supporting Ahlstrom-Munksjö’s expansion into industrial filtration as well as in supplying the lead batteries market, the company said. Giuseppe Costa, vice president of filtration and performance solutions for Asia and EMEA, said the launch signalled a “a strong step into the energy storage market by bringing onstream a platform which will be fully qualified for the manufacture of AGM media”.
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ELBC 2022: THE CHINA PERSPECTIVE Despite the EU’s oft-stated goal of building a battery cells manufacturing network to challenge Asia’s dominance, a senior Beijing envoy to Germany tells Batteries International, China is happy to play a key supporting role in shaping Europe’s batteries future.
How China’s battery tigers are helping Europe’s nascent battery industry roar Many of the draft rules soon to become EU law under the Batteries Regulation are part of an undisguised effort on the part of the bloc’s leaders to dethrone Asia from its dominance in the batteries market. Measures imposing tough ‘green criteria’ seeking to make European battery products an international standard and setting carbon emission limits on production are part of the arsenal of policies the bloc has crafted, in an attempt to allow Europe’s own gigarevolution to pick up speed and so challenge dominance from battery makers in countries such as China and South Korea. But while the policy-making rumbled on, Asia’s battery tigers prowled into town. The ‘competitors’ are no
longer across the other side of the world — they’re busy at work in EU member states. And in exclusive interview with Batteries International, the commercial counsellor at China’s embassy in Berlin, Wang Weidong, says his nation is happy to be supporting Europe’s green energy agenda. As far as the Batteries Regulation is concerned, Wang says Chinese battery companies believe the new rules will have a positive impact in “promoting green, low-carbon and sustainable development” of the battery industry and tackling climate change. Key players in China’s battery industry are among others, such as South Korea, who have been busy setting up shop in the EU — in partnership with
“It is conceivable that Sino-European exchanges in the methodology of battery products will be undertaken and a cooperation mechanism will be established … “This should facilitate mutual market access, create a win-win situation and make constructive progress towards global climate protection” — Wang Weidong 24 • Batteries International • ELBC 2022 Show Guide • Summer 2022
European peers — and in some cases benefiting from generous EU financial incentives. Wang says data from the federal government-backed Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI) shows that around 5,700 Chinese firms across a variety of sectors were active in Germany in 2021, which in turn employed a total of more than 103,000. And despite what Wang said were difficult economic conditions, GTAI data on foreign direct investment for Germany in 2020 indicated some 170 greenfield investment projects from China — a 10% increase over the previous year. Those investors include Chinese battery manufacturing majors Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) and SVOLT Energy Technology. “They specialize in electromobility and are building battery manufacturing factories in Germany,” Wang says. Meanwhile another Chinese battery titan, Narada Power, ploughs ahead with its range of projects in support of strengthening Germany’s power grid. Wang says all three companies “are examples of China’s integration into the world economy and the result of the globalization of the (batteries) value chain. “With China’s opening-up process and economic growth, Chinese companies are increasingly expanding their global presence,” he says. “Decisions to enter the German and European markets are made by Chinese investors based on business interests, just like German companies in China.” And now that Chinese battery companies and others have become interwoven into the commercial fabric of Europe’s industrial landscape, Wang hopes Chinese companies “will be offered fair competitive conditions here and that they can be treated equally with local companies”.
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ELBC 2022: THE CHINA PERSPECTIVE In terms of the growth and technological impact of Chinese battery businesses in Europe, Wang says that while Narada has been involved in lead acid and lithium ion battery technology for more than 20 years, “lithium batteries have gradually become the core product” of the firm’s product portfolio in recent years. Since 2017, Narada has been working with German partner companies to develop and deploy battery energy storage projects with a total capacity of 75MW/125MWh. These lead carbon ESS projects have been implemented in five phases, each with an output of 15MW/25MWh. Narada has also established a European Energy Storage Service Center in Germany from which it offers services to European customers. In addition, Wang says the company has provided batteries for frequency control storage projects with a capacity of 50MWh commissioned in Ireland, while a grid peak regulation 300MWh storage project is scheduled for delivery in Italy by the end of 2022, according to Wang. In future, Narada’s focus will be on the “core business of intelligent energy storage and on lithium batteries”. CATL also sees “great development potential” for lithium battery technology. “Breakthroughs in their performance, such as energy density, range, safety, service life and charging have been achieved.” “At the same time, new products and business models are appearing from CATL such as cell-to-pack and cell-tochassis, such as CTP,” Wang says. “The innovation of battery industry depends on the development of key technologies, but market acceptance
also plays a crucial role.” In early April, Contemporary Amperex Technology Thuringia (CATT), the group’s first manufacturing plant built outside China, received approval for an initial plant capacity of 8GWh per year.
Wang says: “The construction of the plant, which is also CATL’s first battery factory in Germany, is in the final phase and the installation of the machines are in full swing, so that the first cells can roll off the assembly line at the end of 2022.”
Anja Siegesmund Thuringia minister of environment energy and nature conservation and Matthias Zentgraf CATL Europe president
CATL’s Thuringia plant in Germany: ready for action by the end of the year
HOW REALPOLITIK ENERGIZED THE GREEN ENERGY AGENDA Since the launch of the European Battery Alliance in 2017, the European Commission has trumpeted calls to make the bloc a world leader in sustainable battery production. In doing so, Europe has not been shy in dishing out billions of euros to build a home-grown battery cells manufacturing network in its quest to slap down Asia’s dominance in the market. However, politics make strange bedfellows. While the EU sought to invest in building its own batteries empire, it was revealed in July 2018
that Germany would unlock the coffers of an economic aid fund — to support CATL’s construction of a battery cells factory in the country. The agreement was announced during talks between Germany’s then chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese premier Li Keqiang. Officials said the financial support was allowed under EU guidelines for regional investment. It’s also been barely two years since European Commission vice president and champion of the Battery Alliance, Maroš Šefcovic, said in a speech to a Nordic Battery Scene webinar that
26 • Batteries International • ELBC 2022 Show Guide • Summer 2022
reducing Europe’s “overdependence on third countries, both for batteries and the raw materials needed to make them, is crucial to boosting our strategic autonomy and resilience in this area”. In that June 2020 speech, Šefcovic bemoaned the fact that “73% of the batteries bought in the EU are made in China, and only 6% in Europe”. Today, those remarks can perhaps be better revised to say: “We don’t mind buying batteries from Chinese companies, so long as they’re made in Europe.” Realpolitik in action, no doubt.
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ELBC 2022: THE CHINA PERSPECTIVE With a total investment of €1.8 billion (about $1.9 billion), CATL intends to expand production capacity to 14GWh and create 2,000 jobs in Germany. “CATL is therefore bringing its state-of-the-art technologies to Europe,” says Wang. According to Wang, the spirit of industrial cooperation in the batteries sector should also be a model for governments to work together in using technology to tackle climate change. “It affects us all and can only be mastered through our joint efforts. China has committed to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2060. Germany and Europe have also set themselves an ambitious goal for climate neutrality,” he says. “To achieve that goal, both Europe and China are trying to expand renewable energies. Energy storage is an essential technical component for the energy transition. The low-carbon transformation and the innovations in climate protection technologies, which include energy storage, therefore hold great potential for cooperation between China and Germany.” Wang says Chinese president Xi Jinping and German chancellor Olaf Scholz agreed during a video conference on May 9 that both sides would “deepen cooperation on climate protection and energy transformation”. The incoming Battery Regulation “clarifies binding requirements on carbon footprints, due diligence, material recycling targets, labelling and information management,” he says. “With the rapid technological innovation in this industry and the globalization of the supply chain, it is desirable that international coordination of the production standards in the battery industry be strengthened. “China and Europe are the world’s most important regions of production and consumer markets for new energy vehicles and power batteries,” says Wang. “German electric vehicles equipped with Chinese power batteries are sold all over the world.” Wang also hints at a desire to work closely with Europe in advances in next generation battery technology, saying it is “conceivable that Sino-European exchanges in the methodology of battery products will be undertaken and a cooperation mechanism will be established. “This should facilitate mutual market access, create a win-win situation and make constructive progress towards global climate protection.”
However, Wang says that as world economies seek to pick up pace in the aftermath of the pandemic there are still challenges ahead. He acknowledges that for all China’s economic and industrial might, it too is not immune from global events. “There are disruptions in the global supply and transport chains, which can be observed in many countries. The reasons for this situation are manifold: bottlenecks in container shipping, rising commodity prices and so on,” he says. What Wang terms as the “current Ukraine crisis” has, he says, “further aggravated the situation. “China is now also being negatively affected. For example, like in Germany, in China there is a shortage of chips for the automotive industry.”
Wang is also open about the impact of a fresh outbreak of Covid cases in China in recent months that has led to some companies temporary halting production. But, conscious of China’s role as a global player in the materials supply chain for a range of industries, Wang says the government issued new Covid-19 prevention guidelines, designed to enable businesses to “resume work to secure and stabilize industrial supply chains. “In 2021, China’s exports increased by 21.2% year-on-year. In doing so, China has helped meet the manufacturing and living needs of other parts of the world and helped to sustain the global industrial and supply chain. We will continue these efforts in the future.”
ASIA’S BATTERY DRIVE INTO EASTERN EUROPE
A number of Asian battery players are making inroads into the European battery cells manufacturing market. In December 2020, the Hungarian government said Chinese lithium battery components company Shenzhen Kedali Industry would open a manufacturing base in the north of the country. In July 2021, the European Commission approved a proposed €90 million ($94 million) subsidy by Hungary for construction of a second electric vehicle battery plant in the country by South Korea’s SK Innovation. The announcement came after SKI secured a $500 million ‘green loan’ from the Export-Import Bank
28 • Batteries International • ELBC 2022 Show Guide • Summer 2022
of Korea towards construction of the facility — and unveiled plans to start building a third battery plant in Hungary. On March 18 this year, the European Commission approved a €95 million package of aid offered by Poland’s government to support the LG Chem group’s expansion of its EV battery cells production plant in the country. Commission executive vice president Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said an investigation into the incentives offered confirmed that the expansion “will contribute to job creation and to the economic development of a disadvantaged region, without unduly distorting competition”.
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Batteries International • ELBC 2022 Show Guide • Summer 2022 • 29
ELBC 2022: TIMELINE — THE PAST 10 YEARS
A decade of turmoil but also of progress
To the outsider the lead battery business seems to be a tranquil landscape where nothing seems to change very rapidly. But to those in the know, the history of the battery is more a series of torrid episodes resembling scenes from Peyton Place than Little House on the Prairie! It’s also a strange industry. Competitive to its core but gracious in helping competitors when circumstances change. 2012 • Johnson Power Solutions opens its first US battery recycling centre in Florence, South Carolina. • Emerson completes acquisition of Chloride Group, the end of one of
the most famous brands in lead battery history but one that had lost its way a quarter of a century before. • Exide Technologies’ recycling plant in Frisco, Texas is closed, followed by Vernon, California the year after. The issue of lead contamination of
the surrounding areas continued to be a problem for Exide until it was sold this year. It also closes its plant in New Zealand. 2013 • Exide Technologies files for bankruptcy protection a second time. As with first Chapter 11, it will take two years before it is able to trade again. • After 22 years of struggling, bipolar start-up Atraverda goes into receivership. • Charlesbank Capital Partners makes initial investment in Trojan Battery. The firm had been in the Godber family since its foundation in 1925.
Exide Technologies’ recycling plant in Vernon, California closed in 2013
30 • Batteries International • ELBC 2022 Show Guide • Summer 2022
• Ador Digatron joint venture goes ahead between German headquartered Digatron and Ador, a well respected Indian firm and a further move by Digatron to expand its presence in Asia.
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ELBC 2022: TIMELINE — THE PAST 10 YEARS • Hammond releases K2 range of expanders, offering a step change in lead acid battery performance, particularly in terms of cyclability in partial state of charge and offering performance benefits that can be adjusted to varying temperature ranges and demands. Initially most suited for stop-start and micro-hybrid applications. • Atomized Products Group sets up new $4.3 million operation in Chesapeake in US state of Virginia. 2015: Zesar invests in new factory in Manisa, near Turkey’s port city of Izmir
• GS Yuasa acquires Turkish battery firm, boosts stake in Malaysia, expands further in Indonesia.
• South Africa’s Metair buys 100% of Turkey’s Mutlu Holding and a 75% stake in Mutlu Akü, the lead battery maker. It was already lining up taking a stake in German battery manufacturer Moll (2015), which gives it a part stake in Chaowei, a Chinese battery firm. • At the end of the year Seven Mile Capital Partners buys Microporous from Polypore/Daramic for $120 million. A new management team is set up early in 2014.
• C&D Technologies’ CEO plans revamp aimed to restore lead battery reputation the firm had in the 1990s and 2000s. • ALABC restructuring approved by its members and ILA. • Bipolar batteries make a spectacular return to the limelight with two firms, in particular Advanced Battery Concepts and Gridtential, providing viable alternatives to regular lead batteries. ABC develops GreenSeal technology, a full suite of patented technologies and simplified production processes, to enable the construction of reduced lead content, high performance, lower cost lead batteries in existing formats for
today’s and newly enabled future markets. Commercial adoption follows. Gridtential introduces its Silicon Joule technology. This is a substrate that replaces the grid in a battery, resulting in a large reduction in the amount of lead required and better performance. Like ABC’s bipolar batteries most of the regular production of the battery can be built on existing plate-making lines, modified assembly lines and existing formation/finishing lines. • Asahi Kasei acquires Polypore International, the parent company to Daramic and affiliates. • Death of DeLight Breidegam, charismatic founder of East Penn Manufacturing and creator of the largest family owned battery business in the US.
2014 • Aqua Metals demonstrates a novel way of recycling lead acid batteries without the use of smelting. Commercialization of the technology stalls thereafter. After the initial public offering peak of $21 a share, the price now trades under $1. 2015 • Zesar invests in new factory in Manisa, near Turkey’s port city of Izmir. Later expanded to another factory. Plans are to double the firm’s manufacturing area to 10,000m2.
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East Penn’s DeLight Breidegam: a remarkable life at the heart of the battery industry
Batteries International • ELBC 2022 Show Guide • Summer 2022 • 31
ELBC 2022: TIMELINE — THE PAST 10 YEARS 2016
• A watershed moment for lead battery research when Argonne National Laboratory, RSR Technologies and East Penn Manufacturing agree to work together under a standard US government cooperative research and development agreement. RSR and East Penn to use Argonne’s state-of-the-art analytic technologies to accelerate lead battery research. These same technologies have already been used by lithium battery researchers in previous years. Tests undertaken will investigate the fundamental transport processes in lead batteries, using a variety of characterization techniques available at Argonne. Scientists at Argonne who will be assigned to the project have extensive experience in synchrotron X-ray techniques, in particular for characterizing materials under controlled electrochemical conditions. 2017
• BCI launches innovation award. Hammond wins award for further development of its K2 range of expanders and opening up its E=MC2 laboratory to serve the battery industry. • Tactical tax reasons are involved in the creation of Johnson Controls International based in Ireland and formed through a merger of Johnson Controls and Tyco International. • End of a legend. Ann Noll, one of the great institutions of Battery Council International, retires after 37 years with the council. Greatly missed by North American battery firms as well as worldwide. • Four lead association bodies BCI, ILA, EUROBAT and ABR agree to kickstart a global pro-lead battery campaign. This is the first attempt at full coordination between the organizations.
• ENTEK International, battery separator designer and producer, signs an agreement with Separindo, the Indonesia-based polyethylene battery separator producer and Japanese glass company NSG Group, to make and sell PE separators across Asia. Breaks ground on new plant for this in 2019. • BCI leads the way with pushing for lower blood lead levels for workers in battery plant. • Death of Detchko Pavlov, Bulgarian academician and probably the greatest expert on the lead battery that has ever lived. Over his lifetime his research contributed to much of our present understanding of how lead batteries work. He is particularly
Detchko Pavlov: generosity of spirit
remembered for the generosity of spirit in sharing this knowledge around the world. • Doe Run expands lead mining on back of higher lead prices. • Monbat buys Italian recycling firm Piombifera Italiana. • Penox opens new product development centre in Germany. • Chinese e-bike lead battery maker Danneng Power International expands output with $870m sales. • BM Rosendahl opens development centre. • EC fines lead cartel Recyclex, Campine, Ecobat Technologies for fixing lead prices. • Exide Industries opens $100m plant in Bengal. • Belectric, a UK lead acid/lithium battery firm, is bought by German utility Innogy SE (previously RWE). • Black Diamond Structures opens battery testing for nanomaterials technology facility in Texas.
• Cellusuede moves into new base and 125,000sq ft factory at Rockford in US state of Illinois. • Ecoult, the East Penn subsidiary, installs UltraBattery in smart grid test bed in Dublin. • Founder of ALABC Michael Mayer dies.
2017: Daramic greenfield plant in Gujarat, India finished and operational
32 • Batteries International • ELBC 2022 Show Guide • Summer 2022
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ELBC 2022: TIMELINE — THE PAST 10 YEARS • Exide Technologies waives the right to use Exide brand name in perpetuity to Indian battery giant Exide Industries. This follows a 20-year dispute over the issue. • Daramic greenfield plant in Gujarat, India finished and operational. • NorthStar wins BCI award for its remote monitoring technology. This allows battery users to review the battery’s health and status at any time from anywhere. The embedded battery sensor communicates with both site technicians and power systems to ensure correct installation and settings. The device was launched for the telecom sector, but will be expanded to new segments. 2018 • Batek Makina opens 43,000 sq ft plant in Dilovasi in Turkey. • Furukuwa Battery partners Vietnam’s Pinaco in UltraBattery manufacturing deal. Furukuwa already had operations in China, India, Indonesia and Thailand.
• C&D Technologies, a portfolio company of KPS Capital Partners, acquires Trojan Battery Company. • Proposal for new body to replace ALABC mooted at Vienna ELBC. The Consortium for Battery Innovation emerged the following year. • SY Innovations formed, designed to support SY Group and explore new markets, products and sales/ marketing techniques. • Gridtential wins BCI award for its bipolar battery solution but automation problems on the production line dog adoption despite backing from well-known battery manufacturers. • Chinese battery firm Leoch makes undisclosed investment in UK firm DBS Energy. • Hollingsworth & Vose invested in capacity expansion in raw material and global separator production to support the AGM market. • Duracell unveils new lead battery, citing cost benefits against lithium. • Solar power company Mobisol
partners African lead battery firms for storage component to its offering. • Canada’s Discover Energy buys Korean lead manufacturing business iQ Power Asia. • India’s Exide Industries moves into lithium with Leclanché in joint venture. • Innovative New Zealand lead battery pioneer ArcActive partners East Penn. • Amara Raja, Gravita sign recycling deal. JCI, which has worked with Amara Raja for 20 years, formalized an agreement between the two this year. • Narada inaugurates first of five grid-scale lead carbon ESS in Germany. • EnerSys buys Canada’s Alpha Technologies for $750m in push into energy storage markets. • Korean lead battery maker AtlasBX gets go-ahead to build lead battery plant in US. • Trojan Battery sold to C&D Technologies as last remaining link with Godber family cut. 2019
2018: Batek Makina opens 43,000 sq ft plant in Dilovasi in Turkey
34 • Batteries International • ELBC 2022 Show Guide • Summer 2022
• RSR Technologies wins BCI award with possibly the most important advance in lead research this side of the century. RSR, working with East Penn Manufacturing and the US Argonne National Laboratory, used Argonne’s Advanced Photon Source synchrotron to look at, in real time, the crystallization of lead plates at the atomic level during the charging and discharging process. The results of the research enable the firm to develop its alloy, known as Supersoft-Hycycle, which enhances lead battery performance. Tim Ellis, president of RSR Technologies, said: “With this we can compete and win against lithium in many applications with higher performance. “The work at Argonne has helped us understand the physical processes taking place in real time inside batteries to develop higher performance advanced lead batteries. Our Supersoft-Hycycle lead really improves cycle life as validated by
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ELBC 2022: TIMELINE — THE PAST 10 YEARS • Don Gribble, inspirational founder of Batteries International, passes away in November. • California DTSC issues writ to former Exide Technologies — now called Stryten Energy — to recover Vernon clean-up costs. Saga continues.
Wirtz expands its product lines once more, enters nickel-zinc market
many of our customers, especially in higher temperature and extreme operating conditions.” The alloy is already being used by South African battery firm Auto-X, the maker of the Willard brand of batteries. • Microporous forms joint partnership with Chinese firm Zisun, the largest fully integrated producer of glass micro-fibres and media in Asia, allowing Microporous to add AGM separators to its product range. • Specialist battery machine maker Wirtz Manufacturing invests in nickel-zinc battery maker ZAF Energy Systems. • Johnson Controls Power Solutions — the former battery division of JCI bought by Brookfield Business Partners for $13 billion — launched itself with the name Clarios. • Lead batteries in India lose subsidies under new FAME-II regulations. • East Penn takes stake in lithium battery maker Navitas. • Exide Industries moves into e-rickshaw battery manufacturing. • Water Gremlin moves back to full production after agency shut-down. • Upside Group switches on 25MWh lead carbon system in Germany. 2020 • Hammond Group completes the first step to employee ownership. • Covid-19 claims first lead battery insolvency victim, Moll, but outlook
for the firm brightens later. • Exide Technologies (and four subsidiaries) files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to facilitate the sale of its North American assets. In July Exide sells its North American assets to Atlas Holdings. • German formation firm using acid recirculation technology Inbatec and Kustan become equal and independent subsidiary of new firm RedDotPlastics. • ArcActive wins BCI innovation award with technology to replace negative battery electrode with nonwoven carbon fabric that achieves high DCA with minimal loss. Later in the year ArcActive is very close to full commercialization of the product. • Neutron diffraction is used for the first time to improve lead battery performance, says Consortium for Battery Innovation. The project, launched in Spain under the CBI’s technical programme, uses hi-tech neutron diffraction techniques to explore what happens as lead batteries charge and discharge. Exide Technologies and the Institute of Materials Science of Aragon work with the CBI on the project. • Exide Technologies officially separates from its North American business and in October becomes a new European, Asia-Pacific firm under new ownership but retaining Stefan Stubing as president, CEO and director. The European business, now free from the US parent, is free to focus on its automotive and industrial energy storage technologies. It has two R&D facilities as well as 11 production plants across Europe.
36 • Batteries International • ELBC 2022 Show Guide • Summer 2022
• End of the year round-up. Lithium ion battery prices drop to lowest ever. Meanwhile, the numbers of lithium battery recalls explode for safety reasons. Chronologically, first for LG Chem home systems (December), Polestar 2 models recalled (November), GM recalls 68,667 Chevrolet Bolts (November), BMW recalls 40,000 cars in various ranges (October), Hyundai recalls 77,000 Kona Electric models (October), Ford recalls 20,000 Kuga plug in hybrids (August). 2021 • Batek Makina, the Turkish battery equipment manufacturer, takes over Italian formation firm Bertola and its subsidiary Moran. • India’s second largest lead battery maker Amara Raja announces plans in February to begin working on lithium battery cells. • Hammond, East Penn, Consortium for Battery Innovation launch joint research program in March. CBI meanwhile announced it had launched a new European research project using neutron diffraction. • China moves to ban lead batteries in low-speed electric vehicles. • Chris Pruitt, East Penn CEO takes over as new BCI president. • Kathryn Bullock, one of the greats in the electrochemical history of the lead battery, passes away in May. • Hammond Group wins BCI innovation award for development of using lead silicate as a way to counter the destructive effects of acid stratification in lead batteries. This is subsequently called GravityGuard. • Oxis, the lithium sulfur battery developer, is acquired by Johnson Matthey.
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ELBC 2022: TIMELINE — THE PAST 10 YEARS • Shake up of maritime transportation rules becomes likely after cargo vessel Felicity Ace sinks off Azores with talk of possible cause being lithium fire in EVs being transported. • Shareholder reveals in February ahead of Metair’s results announcement that the South Africa holding group is to sell off its batteries business. • Surprises at Ecobat as Marcus Randolph is appointed in March as its president and CEO taking over from incumbent Jimmy Herring. 2021: China moves to ban lead batteries in low-speed electric vehicles
• Clarios acquires Spanish recycler Metalúrgica de Medina.
• Victory for Battery Council International in May as lead batteries removed from California’s DTSC danger list. This is a huge vindication of the value of BCI’s tireless campaigning on the subject.
• India’s Exide Industries announces plan in March to invest $800m in lithium manufacturing.
• Lead/lithium hybrid trial starts in Poland in July. GS Yuasa, next month, wins another installation of lead/lithium hybrid capitalizing on the energy strength of lithium batteries with the price advantages and stability of lead ones. • Clarios pulls $1.7 billion capital raising via an IPO at last minute citing market volatility. • Ecobat buys German lithium battery recycler Promesa in July in clear sign of future plans. It follows this up in October with acquisition of Emrol.
• Monbat announces plans to open a bipolar lead battery facility by 2024. In following June agreement reached with ABC when Monbat managers secure near 21% stake in the group. • Stryten buys vehicle power division of Galvion a military equipment maker. In December it buys Tulip Richardson Manufacturing which makes injection moulding products and in January acquires Storion Energy, a vanadium flow battery technology firm. 2022 • Disturbing signs of imminent lithium battery shortages according to reports circulating well before the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing chaos.
• Bipolar batteries to the fore as Gridtential signs development agreement with Camel Energy. Meanwhile Advanced Battery Concepts pushes ahead with sales contracts for its GreenSeal batteries. • Ahlstrom-Munksjö launches AGM line in June in Italy. European battery production is still a very mainstream market. • EU warns in June ‘hazard’ classification could endanger battery investments • Campine acquires Recyclex in €3.5m agreement in July after court process in May.
• ENTEK closes acquisition of NSG separator division in September can offer AGM, P/E and lithium separators. • Women in The Global Battery Industry group launched at BCI meeting held in San Diego, California. • Sunlight Systems, the Greek battery manufacturing firm, announces in September it will spend €50 million ($59.2 million) to create the world’s largest motive lead battery unit. • Long Duration Energy Storage Council formed in November by 24 tech companies.
2022: Felicity Ace sinks off Azores with talk of possible cause being lithium fire in EVs being transported
38 • Batteries International • ELBC 2022 Show Guide • Summer 2022
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ELBC 2022: VIEWPOINT: HOPPECKE Marc Zoellner, head of battery firm Hoppecke, discusses the challenges and opportunities for sustainable battery development within European climate policy.
The road to 2030 Efficient storage of electrical energy is an essential element of future energy policy and an important part of the energy transition. Modern battery systems play a prominent role in this. They are of central importance for the development of the lead market for electromobility and for the stationary storage of renewable energies. In view of the growing share of fluctuating renewable energies, the power system must become more flexible, so that system and supply security can continue to be guaranteed. Batteries and electrochemical storage systems thus represent a key technology for achieving climate protection targets. The European Green Deal and Batteries Regulation represent the key legislative drivers for battery innovation to meet the EU’s objectives in the coming years. The Green Deal, presented in December 2019, is one of the main drivers to further electrify end-user applications and decarbonize transportation, the energy system, telecoms, off-road industrial vehicles and many other applications. Innovations in battery technologies are recognized as one of the key enablers to make this happen. The European battery manufacturing industry covering all electrochemical systems, is committed to meeting the EU’s objectives, in accordance
with the Green Deal and Batteries Regulation. The industry is committed to increasing its investments in innovation and to scaling up battery production in line with future demand for batteries and requirements related to performance, safety, and the circular economy. Europe needs a regulatory landscape that treats all battery technologies equally, by utilizing different technologies and developing the circular economy: • To maximize existing capabilities • To allow all mainstream technologies to evolve and innovate in line with the future requirements, to meet the carbon-neutral objectives of the Green Deal and to make Europe less dependent on fossil fuel imports • To make Europe less dependent on imports of materials and, therefore, less vulnerable to shortages Each mainstream battery technology — based on lead, lithium, nickel and sodium — has a substantial developmental potential, driven by the requirements of different applications. No single battery chemistry or technology can meet all the challenges of end-user demand in a multitude of applications, combining high power and energy density, long life, low cost, excellent safety and minimal environmental impact.
Extreme***
others (GWh)
Li (GWh)
NiMH (GWh)
NiCd (GWh)
Figure 1: Worldwide battery market development.
40 • Batteries International • ELBC 2022 Show Guide • Summer 2022
Pb (GWh)
Improvements in service life, performance and safety will be enabled by using innovative materials and cell components in the electrochemical system, as well as applying advanced battery management systems. The outstanding feature in this process is that these improvements are always tailored to the needs of a specific application. Battery markets and predictions There are many credible sources predicting different battery market trends in different scenarios. A realistic scenario for the evolution of the total worldwide battery market is a fivefold market growth, from 645GWh in 2020 to 3,495GWh in 2030. The chart below represents the worldwide battery market per technology. This shows that lead and lithium batteries will remain the dominant technologies in the market through to 2030, with volumes on the world battery market of lead reaching 495GWh and lithium 3,000GWh. Figure 1 gives a first indication that the mainstream battery technologies will remain complementary through to 2030: • Lead batteries (495GWh) will serve the 12V SLI and 12V auxiliary automotive applications, followed by specific applications in motive power and stationary energy storage, in particular UPS and telecom markets. • Lithium batteries (trend scenario 3,000GWh, Fig. 2) will largely serve the e-mobility automotive power segments (xEV batteries), representing 85%-90% of the total volume. They will also be part of the energy storage markets, which will reach 150GWh-225GWh by 2030, of which 41GWh will be behind-the-meter (BTM), 138GWh front-of-the-meter (FTM) and 31GWh for residential storage (see chart below).
Figure 2: Market shares of lithium-ion technology in 2030 (trend scenario 3TWh Li-Ion in 2030).
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ELBC 2022: VIEWPOINT: HOPPECKE Current predictions on large-scale ESS do not consider the European Commission’s recently announced RePowerEU Plan in response to global energy market disruptions. The European Commission presented its REPowerEU package a few months ago, a plan to rapidly reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels and fast forward the green transition. The EC’s RepowerEU Plan could have an additional high impact on stationary energy storage demand, which cannot be covered by only one technology. There is an upcoming predicted growing potential for established technologies especially lead for certain ESS applications. REPowerEU was initially created to end the EU’s dependency on fossil fuel imports and will reinforce the Commission’s Fit for 55 plan to cut emissions by at least 55% by 2030. The synergy of both plans will considerably accelerate the building of Europe’s clean energy infrastructure. In this context the Commission is proposing to increase the EU’s 2030 target for renewables from the current 40% to 45%, which would bring the total renewable energy generation capacities to 1,236GW by 2030 (compared to 1,067 GW by 2030 under Fit for 55). These new objectives will impact our market projections for the stationary storage battery markets and in particular, for large-scale ESS. Putting it all together By 2030, both Li-ion and lead-based batteries will remain the dominant battery technologies. • Li-ion: The fastest growing market with double-digit annual growth up to 2030 • Lead-based: It will maintain its position with single digit market growth every year until 2030 The mainstream established technologies still have innovation potential and through to 2030, will improve incrementally to meet the changing and increasing market requirements in many end-user applications: • Lead batteries with new technology branches, such as pure lead, lead-carbon and bipolar • Li-ion batteries, because of the diversity in technologies, have a large variety of key performance indicators to improve. Application-specific developments will further push the boundaries for the established technologies, in
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The advantages of a lead-based technology Lead-based batteries have been on the market for more than a century because they are affordable, safe and sustainable. Occupational exposure to lead is under control because the battery industry has proactively taken measures to limit the exposure of its employees to blood lead contamination during the manufacturing process. Europe should allow the market to drive innovation and recent progress on lead battery research should not be discounted. The further development of lead batteries in a variety of enhanced technologies will serve applications that can contribute to the achievement of the zero-carbon targets in the European Green Deal. The collection and recycling of lead batteries are well-established and ensure a minimum impact. The EU has a mature process of collection and recycling that is both efficient and cost-effective and operates within an established infrastructure particular for Li-ion and lead-based technologies. Other mainstream batteries are not yet at the same level of maturity when it comes to developing a circular economy. Each technology has different R&D needs to make progress on this. Batteries that are sustainable over their entire lifecycle will be key to achieving climate neutrality, as well as to ensuring the sustainable competitiveness of the industry and to making Europe less dependent on energy imports. In addition, the new Batteries Regulation framework should also help to reduce the EU’s dependence on imported materials to build batteries that are crucial for achieving the climate goals, as a lot of that material could come from recycling existing batteries. In particular, due to the improved performance and reduced carbon footprint of pure lead thin plate technology, Hoppecke has made strategic investments in R&D, processes and production facilities to support EU demand for sustainable high-performance energy storage systems to meet the future requirements for industrial applications. Upcoming new technologies are also required. Sodium-ion room tempera-
that ensures a circular economy. Batteries are collected by recognized companies and recycled within specialized recycling facilities (secondary lead smelters) in a closedloop system that operates under strict environmental regulations. From an end-of-life perspective, this process reduces the need to produce additional virgin materials, such as primary lead and plastics, which have the biggest environmental impact in the lifecycle of the product. Today, an astonishing 99% of end-of-life lead batteries are collected and recycled. This is because only lead battery recycling generates a net income across the entire value chain. Recycling targets for lead batteries will be maintained at a very high level in 2030, with 90% efficiency and recycling of active materials at 99%, achieving a circular economy and benefiting the whole value chain. ture batteries represents the most promising future technology in terms of cost, raw material availability and performance. But it is still unclear what technical maturity level can be achieved and when this technology will be marketable.
Marc Zoellner has been CEO and managing shareholder of Hoppecke Batteries since 2003. The firm is the largest producer of industry battery systems in European ownership and specialized in innovative storage solutions. It is a long standing EUROBAT member. Zoellner was elected EUROBAT president in June 2019.
Batteries International • ELBC 2022 Show Guide • Summer 2022 • 41
ELBC 2022: EXHIBITOR FLOORPLAN Key 6m2 Booth
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FRÖTEK Booth: 79
ENTEK Booth: 48 For more than 35 years, ENTEK has been an innovator and leading world-wide designer and producer of highly reliable microporous polyethylene battery separators for lead-acid and lithium batteries. Its separators are used in automotive, golf cart, and a wide range of industrial applications, and are also in great demand for products that require high energy or high voltage systems such as secondary batteries in portable devices and primary batteries in critical systems. ENTEK also manufactures the production equipment used to produce ENTEK’s high quality separator products. ENTEK is a leader in the design, production and installation of twin-screw extruders and other production equipment to support our customers engaged in plastics compounding, including recycling, custom compounding, specialty sheet lines, and other products such as including bioplastics and other high demand goods that support the growing consumer demand for recyclable and biodegradable containers. ENTEK is headquartered in Lebanon, Oregon, USA, with facilities in the United Kingdom, Japan, China, and Indonesia. Its products are sold through its sales offices and distributors worldwide. For more information, visit www.entek.com. Contact details: Clint Beutelschies, VP of Global Sales cbeutelschies@entek.com +65 6956 6119 For media inquiries, contact: Carri Moffatt, Marketing Manager cmoffatt@entek.com +1 541 259 3901
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FRÖTEK–Kunststofftechnik GmbH is a global, family-owned company with seven facilities spread over four continents. With our global presence in Germany, Hungary, Ukraine, China, South Africa and the US we assure world wide customer satisfaction by offering local manufacturing, support and quick deliveries. FRÖTEK is the leading designer and manufacturer of intercell connectors for industrial, stationary and Li-Ion applications. Since introduction of our welded intercell connectors in 2001 we have been able to convince all major battery companies to use them. Since then FRÖTEK continues to further improve the quality and performance of this product range. Besides intercell connectors FRÖTEK is well known for: watering plugs, electrolyte circulation, vent plugs, level indicators, wiring harnesses and various other battery accessories. Molding, extrusion, welding and clean room production is our daily business. Quality is our top priority. FRÖTEK has been certified according to IATF 16949:2016 since 2001. FRÖTEK product development engineers are available to solve your problems and you will always find in FRÖTEK a competent partner for your development needs. Our experienced engineering development is looking forward to find the lest solution for your application or problem. Put us to the test and we will convince you too. Contact details: Jannik Brakel Marketing Phone: +49 5522 9010 381 Fax: +49 5522 9010 950 eMail: jannik.brakel@froetek.de Mobile: +49 171 5548 356 www.froetek.com General information: info@froetek.com +49 5522 9010 0 www.froetek.com
Batteries International • ELBC 2022 Show Guide • Summer 2022 • 43
WIRTZ Manufacturing at the 14ELBC; ELBC 2022: EXHIBITOR FLOORPLAN WIRTZ Manufacturing at the 14ELBC; Key
WIRTZ group Companies provides global solutions world-wide TheThe WIRTZ group of of Companies provides global solutions to to thethe world-wide battery manufacturing industry.With With state-of-the-art equipment designed industry. state-of-the-art equipment designed andand Toilets developed WIRTZ (gravity-cast, continuously-cast rolled, punched developed by;by; WIRTZ (gravity-cast, continuously-cast andand rolled, punched gridgrid 2 Coffee 8m2 Booth 24m Booth plate production); OXMASTER (ball-mill barton oxide production andand plate production); OXMASTER (ball-mill andand barton oxide production systems, paste mixing equipment); LEKO (semi-automatic high speed systems, andand paste mixing equipment); LEKO (semi-automatic andand high speed fully-automatic battery assembly lines); CONBRO (battery filling formation fully-automatic battery assembly lines); CONBRO (battery filling andand formation plants); BATTERYRECYCLING (turnkey battery breaking lead plastic plants); andand BATTERYRECYCLING (turnkey battery breaking lead andand plastic recycling systems, including paste desulphurisation). recycling systems, including paste desulphurisation). WIRTZ Manufacturing at the 14ELBC; 137 138 14ELBC, WIRTZ demonstrate their commitment automatically 140 139 136 135 141 At At thethe 14ELBC, WIRTZ willwill demonstrate their commitment to to automatically 142 control, and continuously improve critical process variables, inworld-wide order to 95ensure 75 control, The WIRTZ group of Companies provides global solutions to the and continuously improve critical process variables, in order to ensure 93 91 89 101 99 97 113 111 107 the highest 103 109 of 115 products are that their resulting battery QUALITY, DURABILITY 117 104 105 119 battery manufacturing industry.products With state-of-the-art equipment designed and 121 battery 74 that resulting are of the highest QUALITY, DURABILITY 127 129 their 125 123 94 92 108 106 90 88 102 100 116 114 98 96 112 110 118 120 and PERFORMANCE. 122 developed by;124 WIRTZ (gravity-cast, continuously-cast and rolled, punched grid 73 and PERFORMANCE. 128 126 e 14ELBC; and plate production); OXMASTER (ball-mill and barton oxide production 72 63 65 67 49 51 47 53 WIRTZ Manufacturing Company Inc.. 55 45 62 Company systems, and paste equipment); LEKO (semi-automatic and high speed 64mixing Manufacturing Inc.. 66 71 WIRTZ 1105 Twenty-Fourth Street anies provides global solutions to the world-wide fully-automatic battery assembly (battery 48 filling and formation 1105 Twenty-Fourth Street 50 46 52 lines); CONBRO 70 54 44 57 59 61 Port Huron ry. With state-of-the-art equipment designed and(turnkey battery breaking lead and plastic plants); and BATTERYRECYCLING Port Huron 56 58 69 60 Michigan 48061-5006 ty-cast, continuously-cast and rolled, punched recycling systems, including paste grid desulphurisation). Michigan 48061-5006 15 14 16 68 13 17 12 18 11 10 9 19 20 8 21 7 22 23 USA 24 25 MASTER (ball-mill and barton oxide production USA 26 27 Tel: +1 7600high quipment); LEKO (semi-automatic and speed At Tel: the 14ELBC, WIRTZ will demonstrate their commitment to automatically +1 810810 987987 7600 Email; sales@wirtzusa.com mbly lines); CONBRO (battery filling andimprove formation control, and continuously critical process variables, in order to ensure Email; sales@wirtzusa.com YCLING (turnkey breakingbattery lead and plasticare of the highest QUALITY, DURABILITY that battery their resulting products paste desulphurisation). and PERFORMANCE. battery manufacturing 6m2 Booth 12m2 Booth
CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION LAYOUT
l demonstrateWIRTZ their Manufacturing commitment toCompany automatically Inc.. prove critical process variables, inStreet order to ensure 1105 Twenty-Fourth oducts are ofPort the Huron highest QUALITY, DURABILITY Michigan 48061-5006 USA WIRTZ MANUFACTURING any Inc.. Tel: +1 810 987 7600 Booth: 46 Email; sales@wirtzusa.com
The WIRTZ group of companies provides global solutions to the worldwide battery manufacturing industry. With state-of-the-art equipment designed and developed by; WIRTZ (gravity-cast, continuously-cast and rolled, punched grid and plate production); OXMASTER (ball-mill and barton oxide production systems, and paste mixing equipment); LEKO (semi-automatic and high speed fully-automatic battery assembly lines); CONBRO (battery filling and formation plants); and BATTERYRECYCLING (turnkey battery breaking lead and plastic recycling systems, including paste desulphurisation). At BCI, WIRTZ will demonstrate their commitment to automatically control, and continuously improve critical process variables, in order to ensure that their resulting battery products are of the highest QUALITY, DURABILITY and PERFORMANCE. Contact details: WIRTZ Manufacturing Company Inc.. 1105 Twenty-Fourth Street Port Huron, Michigan 48061-5006 USA Tel: +1 810 987 7600 Email: sales@wirtzusa.com
44 • Batteries International • ELBC 2022 Show Guide • Summer 2022
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ADVANCED BATTERY CONCEPTS
Advanced Battery Concepts is commercializing energy storage systems based on its advanced, proprietary bipolar technology. The result is safer, lower cost and longer lasting energy to meet the evolving needs of several new, high-growth markets. Specifically, Advanced Battery Concepts is solving the biggest issue in today’s electric grid, namely, 0.25-to-8-hour duration daily storage applications, capturing a multi-billion-dollar market and enabling broad-scale adoption of intermittent renewables, like wind and solar. Transforming renewables into a firm, dispatchable resource results in a lower-cost and cleaner energy future. To ensure this future for everyone, our energy storage solution is the most economically, socially, and environmentally responsible solution today. So, when we say “Better Batteries, Better World” we mean it. Contact details: Edward Shaffer Edshaffer2@advancedbatteryconcepts.com • 989-424-6645 David Barrie dbarrie@advancedbatteryconcepts.com Michael Everett meverett@advancedbatteryconcepts.com • 989-424-6645 Jon Joslin jjoslin@advancedbatteryconcepts.com • 989-424-6645
www.batteriesinternational.com
ELBC 2022: EXHIBITOR FLOORPLAN Key 6m2 Booth
12m2 Booth
Toilets
8m2 Booth
24m2 Booth
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DARAMIC Booth: 104
Daramic is the world’s largest manufacturer and supplier of battery separators for automotive, industrial and specialty lead-acid applications. As the inventor of polyethylene separator, Daramic has led the way in developing innovative technology for the global lead-acid battery industry nearly 90 years • Innovation: Our scientists and engineers continue to break new ground in the development of advanced separator technology. Our 3 global innovation centers in Owensboro, US; Sélestat, France and Bangalore, India are dedicated to innovation to meet ever-changing industry needs • Local Supply From A Global Perspective: 10 Manufacturing facilities and 7 Sales offices located in 8 different countries provide local service from a global perspective • Reliability: State-of-the-art processes and manufacturing equipment deliver consistent, reliable product quality • Full Automotive Solutions: Leverage the innovation synergy from its sister companies, the world’s largest li-ion battery separator makers, that position us to provide full solutions for automotive battery applications from basic SLI to Start-Stop to Hybrid and Electric Vehicles Contact details Dawn Heng, VP Global Marketing DHeng@daramic.com www.daramic.com
www.batteriesinternational.com
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SORFIN YOSHIMURA Booth: 36
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Sorfin Yoshimura is the largest independent trading company serving the worldwide lead acid battery industry. Sorfin Yoshimura has offices in the USA, Japan, China, France, and Brasil in addition to agency cooperation in several other countries around the world. We are a global company sourcing the best machinery, materials, and technical services for your battery factories specific needs. Sorfin Yoshimura offers our customers the benefit of our decades of lead acid battery industry experience. We serve hundreds of customers throughout the world each year and customize our services for each and every factory. We are constantly combing the world for the latest innovations in both materials and machinery; seeking to add vendors to our already vast network. When you choose Sorfin Yoshimura, you will quickly identify the unique combination of commercial savvy and engineering know-how that has enabled us to become the company that we are today. We look forward for you to contact Sorfin Yoshimura. The Source of Power! Contact details: Sorfin Yoshimura NY: Paul Fink, President email: sorfin@sorfin.com • Tel: + 1 516 802-4600 Fax: + 1 516 802-4601/4602 • www.sorfinyoshimura.com Sorfin Yoshimura Tokyo: Tom Yoshimura, President email: tokyo@sorfin-yoshimura.jp • Tel: + 81 03 5575-3111 Fax: + 81 03 5575-0826 Sorfin Yoshimura Qingdao: Ms. Lisa Li; President email: qingdao@sorfin-yoshimura.cn • Tel: + 86 532 8597-1191 Fax: + 86 532 8597-1192 Sorfin Yoshimura Europe: Pierre de Costa Lobo email: paris@sorfin-yoshimura.fr • Tel: + 33 01 7815-2715 Fax: + 33 01 7841-6778 Sorfin Yoshimura Brasil Ltda.: Mr. Mauricio Ferrentini Email: saopaulo@sorfin.com.br • Tel: +55 11 3152-2223 Fax: +55 11 3151-2225
Batteries International • ELBC 2022 Show Guide • Summer 2022 • 45
ELBC 2022: EXHIBITOR FLOORPLAN Key 6m2 Booth
12m2 Booth
Toilets
8m2 Booth
24m2 Booth
Coffee
CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION LAYOUT
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FARMER MOLD & MACHINE WORKS
MAC ENGINEERING
Booth: 7
Booth: 37
Family owned and operated since 1938, Farmer Mold & Machine Works specializes in the design and manufacturing of any type of machinery, including battery assembly equipment, parts casting equipment, and plant automation and process engineering. Further, if you need something that’s not already in our current product line, Farmer can work with you to create custom machinery for your specific applications — whether a new technology or refining an existing process. Our portfolio of machinery not only sets the standard within the industry but is ever-growing. Plus, Farmer provides sales and support for acid dilution systems, plate curing ovens, and semi- and fully automated material handling equipment to several industries worldwide. Our highly interactive and innovative approach to automated machine, tool and die, and mold design follows precise safety standards and utilizes the best materials to produce top-of-the-line machines and equipment that are built to last in 24/7 environments. Contact details: Jim Gilmour Tel: +1 727.522.0515 • jgilmour@farmermold.com • www. farmermold.com
46 • Batteries International • ELBC 2022 Show Guide • Summer 2022
MAC Engineering has supplied the lead acid battery industry with high quality downstream battery making equipment since 1965. We offer complete systems for feeding, pasting, flash drying and stacking any continuous or gravity cast plate making technology. From motorcycle and automotive batteries, to industrial and traction, we have equipment to handle any size of battery production. New equipment solutions are now available for punched grids. MAC also offers finishing line equipment for automated Cast on Strap, acid filling, leak testing, heat sealing and more. Contact us today for more information on what we can do for you. Contact details: Jimmy Stewart VP of Sales and Marketing MAC Engineering & Equipment Co. Cell: 1 770-605-8764 Email: jstewart@mac-eng.com MAC-Eng.com
Doug Bornas, President MAC Engineering & Equipment Company (Office) 269-925-3295 (Cell) 269-861-0017
www.batteriesinternational.com
ELBC 2022: EXHIBITOR FLOORPLAN Key 6m2 Booth
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24m2 Booth
Coffee
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NEED BUSINESS ACCESS?
HAMMOND Booth: 41
Issue 98
Winter 2015/2016
Issue 97
Autumn 2015
Issue 95
Picking the new industry leader
West African Black Rhinoceros
Diceros Bicornis Longipes Ofcially extinct 2011
Founded in 1930, Hammond Group, Inc. (HGI) is a battery additives/ oxides and specialty chemical company that is advancing hybrid automotive and renewable energy markets through proprietary battery chemistry. HGI supports these emerging markets with two US manufacturing operations in Hammond, IN and another in Pottstown, PA. HGI also has International operations in Gateshead, England; and another in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Be sure to stop by our booth and talk with our specialists about how HGI can help your company overcome technical challenges. We offer technical assistance programs which allow our customers to utilize our experts to augment their research efforts, reduce capital expenditure and fixed costs, and rapidly develop new products.
Email: customerservice@hmndgroup.com Tel: +1 219 931 9360 • www.hmndgroup.com
www.batteriesinternational.com
VI IEW DE
Adapt to survive: the changing US model Solar battery challenge Rugged endurance trials in Australia’s Outback Smelting’s death knell Aqua Metals’ technology offers viable alternative
Dreamweaver research How separators can beat the nail penetration test BCI Innovation Award MAC/EnerSys, Zesar/LTE reveal latest entries
Bringing the industry try together
www.batteriesinternational.com national.com
Issue 120
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www.batteriesinternational.com national.com $50/€40 $50/€ / 40
Summer 2021
Issue 121
New additive solves traditional problem
The known unknowns of our future energy storage landscape
Desulfurization of lead paste, hydrometallurgy using urea Europe's gigafactories, far too many and far too late
Bringing the industry together
www.batteriesinternational.com
ST E LA TH
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FROM LES E TA NG STRA
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New uses for an established chemistry
Ones to watch: the up-and-coming heroes of grid storage Spread the word — the ABC message on the lithium menace
ST E LA TH
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Jeanne Burbank’s legacy Battery pioneer whose lead insights are still with us
The new titans of lead Ecoult’s UltraBattery take lithium on — head to head
Capacitors come of age Will supercaps be the next miracle ingredient ‘x’?
Bringing the industry together
www.batteriesinternational.com
Autumn 2021
Issue 122
The Great Hydrogen Challenge 2021 a year to remember, but better times ahead
The CEO interview Srivastava and Leclanché’s bid for world dominance
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A potential body blow to battery futures Sadly missed: Roger Berger and Geoff Clementson
ST E LA TH
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FROM LES TA
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The Great Supply Chain Disaster No longer just-in-time, now just-in-case Jimmy Herring: Ecobat's plans to be the universal recycler
Electric vehicle mandates: political posing and hot air
Hybrid fun: lead and lithium, at last ... a perfect pairing
ST E LA TH
BC : EL RD WO
Bringing the industry together
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LEAD
IES TTER BA
Fondly remembered Electrochemist genius Al Salkind passed away in June Profile: Lampe-Önnerud Mixing innovation, ability and commercialization
Bringing the industry together
Winter 2021/2022
Tim Vargo: why Stryten is looking at flow batteries
Bringing the industry together
Island microgrids Replacing costly diesel for renewables and batteries
www.batteriesinternational.com
Pasting fibres: a basic block for lead battery health
ON T LY A BU NN T VIE , NO 2022
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Vehicle-to-grid: energy storage finds new uses, new markets
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Nickel: still an important cog in the energy storage game
Lead squares up to lithium for large scale energy storage
Latin America: the next treasure trove for battery growth
Bringing the industry try together
A cure for acid stratification Tough summer for lithium with recalls, fires, explosions galore,
Celebrating the memory of a life well lived, a company well founded, an industry well served
The stars cross the firmament: Ray Kubis moves to start-up
Summer 2015
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Spring 2022
Trailblazers of tomorrow
BCI Innovation Awards in the spotlight Bob Flicker a lifetime in lead with East Penn Viewpoint: Stryten and the new price direction
Unexpected consequences from the Ukraine tragedy US lead industry ... 'just about fit for purpose'
Bringing the industry together
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DeLight Breidegam Jr
Corporate extinction
Issue 96
Spring 2015
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Batteries International • ELBC 2022 Show Guide • Summer 2022 • 47
ELBC 2022: EXHIBITOR FLOORPLAN Key 6m2 Booth
12m2 Booth
Toilets
8m2 Booth
24m2 Booth
Coffee
CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION LAYOUT
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KEY — ALPHABETICALLY BY COMPANY NAME Abertax Technologies
42
COREng
77
Abhison Engineering
124
Daramic
104
53
Degani
ABPPL Accuma Accumalux Group Accumation
12/13 96
Digatron Ditec Engineering
20/21 35 20/21
Mate Gauge
107
Mecondor
63
Microporous
51
Moojin Service
106/108
Navita Marketing
16
103
Eagle Oxide
87
OAK Press Solutions
Accurate Products
86
EBC Korea
10
Officina Meccanica Romanese
ACE Green Recycling
56
EcoBat
45
OMI NBE
Ahlstrom Munksjö
39 101 9
15
EIRICH
33
ORION
AIB KUNSTMANN
54/55
Engitec
38
Owens Corning
92
Akumsan Plastics
110/112
Entek
48
Öztepe Plastik
97
7
Passoni Alpha
22
Alfa Kutu
65/67
Farmer Mold & Machine Works
Amersil
80
Ferrazza
Atelier Roches
81
Frimax Battery Equipment
ATI S.p.A.
40
FROETEK Group
79
Pinco - Switzerland
Atomized Products Group
11
Glatfelter
19
Pure Earth
Batek Makina
6
Pelipaper
88/90
Penox
52 14 118
GME Recycling
114
S M Air Tech
57
Battery Technology Source
94
Goonvean Fibres
100
Sarv Sanat Toos (SST)
82
Bernard Dumas
18
Hagemann Systems
Sorfin Yoshimura
36 50
BETTER.ING bfs - batterie füllungs systeme Biasin Srl Bitrode
122
20/21
102
1 64/66 116 50
54/55
H. Folke Sandelin
99
Sovema
Hammond Performance Additives
41
STC SRL ITALY
Hollingsworth & Vose ICS - SERI Plast
32
111
TBS
47
Terranova Papers
43
120
BM Rosendahl
49
Inbatec and Kustan
98
UK Powertech
Borregaard
61
Israzion
23
VB Holding Private Limited
34
CAM
30
Jiangsu Jinfan Power Technology
24
V-Efficharge Power Systems
62
CEMT
31
Kallstrom
76
Water Gremlin Aquila
Kite Metals
84
WEGMANN automotive
Kobra
17
Wirtz Manufacturing
46
Zesar
44
COLOROBBIA
105 60
Consortium for Battery Innovation
4
La Pneumatica
Continuus Properzi
2
MAC Engineering
48 • Batteries International • ELBC 2022 Show Guide • Summer 2022
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STTS Brazing Solutions
BJ Industries
CMWTEC Technologie
International Lead Association
5
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37
www.batteriesinternational.com
For over 55 years, MAC Engineering & Equipment Company, Inc. has sold more than 4500 machines, to over 300 customers, in 81 different countries, bringing the MAC Advantage worldwide.
MAC ENGINEERING & EQUIPMENT COMPANY, INC. Visit www.mac-eng.com to see how we can bring the MAC Advantage to you!
