Energy Storage

Thursday 17 April 2025; Self-Healing Materials: Commercial Success or Academic Novelty? An introduction to self-healing materials and mechanisms; Materials science considerations for self-healing materials; Assessment of the applications driving self-healing materials R&D and the likelihood of commercial success

In the first of this new series, IDTechEx Senior Technology Analyst Shazan Siddiqi caught up with Darren Tan, CEO of UNIGRID Battery, at Cambridge EnerTech's International Battery Seminar 2025 in Orlando, to discuss the evolving battery landscape.

Forecasts from the IDTechEx report "Li-ion Battery Recycling Market 2025-2045: Markets, Forecasts, Technologies, and Players"

As demand continues to grow and supply risks swell, a market for critical material recovery technology that enables recycling from end-of-life products and waste is rapidly emerging.

Envalior is a supplier of high performance plastics based in Germany. Envalior supplies base and speciality polymer solutions to automotive and transportation, electronics, consumer goods and industrial applications. Envalior is developing alternatives to PTFE materials for tribology components. IDTechEx spoke with Adnan Hasanovic, Manager within the Innovation Segment: Gears & Bearings, from Envalior.

This premium article breaks down the BYD Super-E Platform in detail. It provides insights into its componentry and highlights both innovations and challenges.

This premium article provides an updated overview of Li-ion recycling facilities, capacities, and plans from key Li-ion battery recyclers.

Blue Current, founded in 2014, emerged from the U.S. Department of Energy's Joint Center for Energy Storage Research with a mission to create safer batteries. Initially focused on safety, the company pivoted in 2016 to develop solid-state composite electrolytes, and by 2018, it introduced a fully dry solid-state battery featuring a high-silicon anode, known as the "silicon elastic composite" battery. Headquartered in Hayward, California, Blue Current expanded its operations in 2019 with a 22,000-square-foot facility and secured over US$30 million in funding by 2022. Multilayer cell demonstrations and pilot-scale production happened in 2023 and 2024. Blue Current works on solving four primary challenges of solid-state batteries: safety, pressure, temperature, and scalability.

Wednesday 9 April 2025 - Driving E-Mobility Forward: How EVs Are Shining a Spotlight on Aerogels; An introduction to aerogels; Factors and regulations driving the increased focus on fire safety in EVs; Comparison of aerogel material types as EV fire protection materials and comparison with other fire protection materials; Market status and outlook for future market share of aerogels in EV applications

Sodium-ion batteries share similar electrochemical principles with lithium-ion but differ in cathodes, anodes, and electrolytes, with ongoing development in cost-effective sodium-based alternatives. While sodium-ion technology faces challenges in achieving cost-competitiveness with lithium-ion, advancements in engineering and material innovation could enable it to serve as a complementary solution in specific applications.

Sodium-ion battery development in Europe is gaining momentum, driven by government support, private investment, and industry partnerships. The EU Green Deal and Sodium-Ion-Battery Deutschland-Forschung are promoting local manufacturing, while Tiamat (5 GWh by 2031) and Altris (1 GWh enabled by its Ferrum facility) are scaling production. Clarios and Altris aim to commercialize low-voltage Na-ion batteries by 2026, while IBU-Tec leads in sodium manganese oxide cathode production for EVs and storage. Northvolt's Chapter 11 filing (Nov 2024) casts uncertainty on its Na-ion plans, though R&D continues. In India, Reliance New Energy Solar (RNES) shifted from a 5 GWh Na-ion plant for Faradion to a 30 GWh battery facility launching in late 2025. Meanwhile, LionVolt's acquisition of AMTE Power raises questions about AMTE's sodium-ion portfolio. Despite industry challenges, Europe remains a key player in Na-ion commercialization.

ProLogium is a Taiwanese manufacturer of lithium ceramic batteries. IDTechEx spoke to ProLogium at CES 2025 about its newest 100% silicon composite anode batteries.

Solid-state batteries are emerging as a promising solution for advanced energy storage, offering a unique balance of performance characteristics that make them suitable for a wide range of applications. However, their widespread adoption will depend on overcoming challenges such as scalability, cost reduction, and addressing interfacial issues between the solid electrolyte and electrodes.

IDTechEx spoke to Asahi Kasei in Singapore to learn more about its Xyron grades for EV battery fire protection and structure.

Forecasts taken from the IDTechEx report "Advanced Li-ion Batteries 2025-2035: Technologies, Players, Markets, Forecasts"

This premium article explore composite covers for electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

This premium article provides an updated overview of Li-ion recycling funding and investments over 2023 and 2024.