Supply Chain Accelerator for Li-ion Electrode materials in UK (SCALE-Up)

"With the increase in electric vehicles and the slow fade out of combustion engines. There is an ever-increasing demand for energy storage devices for the automotive industry. To answer this critical need, and create value for the UK we must develop the supply chain for materials to cell to module to pack. Ensuring the supply of good quality anode and cathode materials for cell production and establishing a more connected supply chain to support the future for the UK in this sector.

This project aims to solve one of the key issues of the supply chain for battery manufacture in the UK; material supply. Material manufacturing is essential if we are to maximise the research and development outputs from the UK research base, and commercialise new battery technologies. As part of this project we will seek to establish a supply chain and route to market for existing and novel battery materials. PV3 and Talga technologies will scale-up an economical and cost effect manufacturing processes for high energy density cathode and anode materials respectively. This will create a novel cell chemistry based upon improvements of a known anode and cathode (graphite and NMC). Scale-up of the materials manufacturing will enable the scale-up of a high energy lithium ion battery, and will lead to further advancement in knowledge for materials manufacture and cell manufacture.

Battery materials are at the forefront of the battery supply chain, and currently the UK manufacturing base is limited. The quality and control of these materials is essential for consistency of electrodes and inherently the good performance of a lithium ion battery. Ensuring a good quality material supply, with a good heritage, will support the move to manufacturing batteries in the UK. This project will look to demonstrate the UK's potential capability in this field, ultimately assisting to advance the UK's competitive position in battery cell technologies and production, and importantly, the transition to a low-carbon economy."