24M delivers 40 grid-scale battery cells to GPSC for module build and application validation
24M announced on May 1 it has manufactured and delivered 40, 110 Amp-Hour (Ah) lithium-ion cells to its partner Global Power Synergy Public Company Limited (GPSC), the Power Flagship Company of PTT Group. GPSC, in collaboration with PTT, Thailand’s state-owned energy company, will assemble these large format cells into 48V modules for stationary storage projects in Thailand and field them for application validation.
The delivery of these grid-scale battery cells based on a lithium iron phosphate cathode follows the recent delivery of high energy density, NMC-based EV cells to the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) in February. These milestones further validate 24M’s chemistry-agnostic, capital-efficient, low-cost approach to advanced lithium-ion battery manufacturing.
The SemiSolid electrode platform provides unique opportunities for cost-optimized, application-specific designs in both grid and EV markets. Specifically, for grid-storage, thicker electrodes deliver a significant structural bill of materials advantage via inactive material reduction, while offering robust abuse tolerance, long life, and unique recycling attributes.
“We’ve proven the novel 24M SemiSolid battery design is production-ready using our semi-automated pilot facility in Cambridge,” said Rick Feldt, President and CEO of 24M. “We look forward to working with our partners to scale this technology further in the coming months.”
“We’re excited to take our partnership with 24M into field deployment and testing,” said GPSC’s representative. “Low-capital, high-performance battery storage will be critical to securing the region’s power supply and advancing the transformation of our energy systems.”
Background
On February 26, 24M announced it has developed and delivered commercially viable, high energy density lithium-ion cells. Using its novel SemiSolid lithium-ion battery design in its pilot facility, 24M achieved energy densities exceeding 250 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg), the current state-of-the-art industry benchmark for EV applications. These deliveries represent a significant milestone in the 24M mission to scale its unique, capital-efficient, low-cost approach to advanced lithium-ion battery manufacturing.
The development of the high energy density nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) cells is part of a USD 7M three-year contract awarded to 24M in 2016 by the United States Advanced Battery Consortium LLC in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy. The program is chartered with developing electrochemical energy storage technologies that support the commercialization of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric and fuel cell vehicles. To achieve the final USABC 2020 density target of 350 Wh/kg by the end of 2019, 24M has developed a multi-faceted, lab-proven approach that includes a novel use of silicon for high energy density anodes.
24M also delivered similar NMC cells with energy densities above 280 Wh/kg to an industrial partner. With these cells, the higher energy densities were achieved by optimizing 24M’s SemiSolid electrode technology, which eliminates the use of a pore-clogging binder, enabling higher active material densities than can be achieved with conventional electrodes. The demonstration of this technology is a major milestone on the 24M roadmap to achieving even higher energy densities (>400 Wh/kg) using its capital-efficient manufacturing process.
“It’s very gratifying to see science translated from the lab into innovative new products as 24M has done by developing and delivering these high energy density cells,” said Naoki Ota, CTO of 24M. “Moreover, we were able to leverage our novel electrode, cell and manufacturing approach to exceed 280 Wh/kg, a significant step towards delivering low-cost lithium-ion cells with industry-leading performance to the EV market.”
About 24M
24M answers the world’s need for affordable energy storage by enabling a new, more cost-effective solution–SemiSolid lithium-ion technology. By re-inventing the design of the battery cell as well as the manufacturing method, 24M solves the critical, decades-old challenge associated with the world’s preferred energy storage chemistry: reducing its high cost while improving its performance. Founded and led by some of the battery industry’s foremost inventors, scientists and entrepreneurs, 24M is headquartered in Cambridge, Mass.
About GPSC
GPSC is an electricity and utility flagship of PTT group with core business to generate and supply electricity, steam, and utilities to its industrial customers, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), and Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA). The total generating capacity according to the Equity MW is close to 5,000 MW of electricity.
