Freudenberg – business in battery cells, modules and systems, along with activities relating to fuel cell systems, is not continuing – hydrogen components business remains

Freudenberg holds its ground in a challenging environment – strong key financial figures underscore stability and future viability.

The Freudenberg Group proves resilient amid economic and geopolitical challenges during fiscal year 2025.

Claus Möhlenkamp, CEO of the Freudenberg Group, said:

In addition to our operating performance, we have consistently focused on financial discipline, structural adjustments and targeted investments geared to the future.

”With the further development of our portfolio as well as our investments in innovation, digitalization and new technologies, we are creating the foundation to position Freudenberg to be competitive and profitable for the long haul,”

The key financial figures for 2025 demonstrate the stability and financial strength of the Weinheim-based global technology group: 

• Sales: €11.73 billion 
• Operating profit: €1.09 billion 
• Equity ratio: 57.1 percent 
• Investments in research and development: €579.5 million (4.9 percent of sales) 

Strengthened by its investments, Freudenberg remains financially robust, strongly positioned for investment, and strategically capable despite the challenging conditions. 

Sales and operating profit for 2025 approached their levels for 2024, a record year, even if the same results were not fully achieved. The positive effects of acquisitions and sales price adjustments were not enough to compensate for exchange rate effects and weaker demand in important markets, especially in the automotive sector. 

The numbers in detail 

During fiscal year 2025, Freudenberg achieved sales of €11,731.9 million. The figure was thus slightly below the previous year’s level of €11,947.5 million, showing a 1.8 percent decline. Exchange rate effects of €281.6 million weighed on sales. The current effects mainly resulted from trends for the U.S. dollar and the Chinese renminbi. 

At €1,092.7 million, operating profit was somewhat below the previous year’s level of €1,132.4 million, registering a 3.5 percent decline. The causes were mainly lower sales volumes, negative currency effects and due-diligence costs related to acquisitions, which depressed earnings.

The profit margin was 9.3 percent (previous year: 9.5 percent).

Cash flow from operating activities came to €974.2 million, a decline of €314.7 million compared to the previous year.

The company’s equity rate increased and stood at 57.1 percent at year’s end (previous year: 56.8 percent). 

Once again, the ratings agency Moody’s Deutschland GmbH gave Freudenberg an “A3” rating with a stable outlook. The company continues to merit the agency’s “Single-A Rating,” confirming a high level of creditworthiness.

Market environment

In 2025, the global market environment was characterized by economic uncertainties, geopolitical tensions and increased volatility in exchange rates. In several core industries – including automotive and machine manufacturing – demand was weak or in decline, especially in Europe and North America.  

Freudenberg responded to this environment with targeted investments in innovation and future technologies, structural and operational adjustments, and the systematic management of its portfolio, in part with acquisitions in medical technology and the food industry. 

The Freudenberg e-Power Systems Business Group was organizationally dissolved on January 1, 2026. The business in battery cells, modules and systems, along with activities relating to fuel cell systems, is not continuing. On the other hand, the hydrogen components business remains and has been attached to Freudenberg Sealing Technologies. About 600 employees, largely in the United States, were affected by the measure.  

The market for batteries and fuel cells in the United States developed much more slowly than expected. The difficulties can be traced to weak demand in the core applications, the lack of infrastructure, especially in the hydrogen segment, high costs and political and regulatory uncertainties. They were joined by global competitive pressures and limited opportunities for scaling, which especially complicated the systems business economically.  

Research and development

In fiscal 2025, Freudenberg invested €579.5 million in research and development (previous year: €604.4 million). Spending on research and development represented 4.9 percent of sales (previous year: 5.1 percent). 

Freudenberg continues to measure the effectiveness of its innovation activities in terms of the share of new products (products younger than four years old) out of total sales. In 2025, this figure rose to 31.5 percent (previous year: 30.8 percent).

The company is especially focusing on the use of artificial intelligence in research, development and production to accelerate innovation and boost the potential for efficiency. By 2028, the Group will have invested about €200 million in AI-supported research. 

Investments 

Adjusted for acquisitions, investments in intangible and tangible assets as well as investment property amounted to €456.0 million in 2025 (previous year: €501.5 million). 

Freudenberg invested globally in the expansion and modernization of its facilities. Freudenberg Medical invested in a new production facility for catheters and injection-molded thermoplastic components in Costa Rica as well as in the construction of a new facility in Alsdorf, Germany. 

Among other sites, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies invested in a new seal manufacturing plant in Querétaro, Mexico, and in an automated central warehouse for Corteco in Milan, USA. At its Weinheim facility, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies launched its new automated central warehouse and started building a new elastomer mixing plant that will serve the automotive and general industry sectors.  

The investments in Germany amounted to €142.9 million in 2025 (previous year: €181.2 million). 

Acquisitions

During the reporting year, the Freudenberg Group carried out acquisitions worth about €800 million. They included the purchase of Fuji Seiko in the medical technology field as well as acquisitions in the food industry for Freudenberg Chemical Specialities’ Capol brand. Freudenberg Home and Cleaning Solutions submitted a takeover offer to acquire all the shares of Nilfisk Holding A/S, to expand its range of professional cleaning devices, including autonomous cleaning robots. 

Employees 

As of December 31, 2025, the Freudenberg Group had 50,968 (previous year: 52,104) employees from 147 nations, working in about 60 different countries. 

The decline in the total number of employees can be mainly attributed to restructuring measures introduced in 2025, especially at Freudenberg e-Power Systems. Despite the new hires gained through acquisitions, the total number of employees was reduced by about 1,100 over the course of the year. 

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U POWER LIMITED Makes Major Breakthrough in Thailand’s Heavy-Duty Truck Battery-Swapping Market

SHANGHAI, April 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — U POWER Limited, a provider of specialized solutions for next-generation energy networks and intelligent transportation systems, announced that, following its securing an order for 1,000 battery-swapping heavy-duty trucks in Thailand and completing production of the first batch of vehicles, its Hong Kong taxi battery-swapping project is also expected to complete station deployment and commence operations in the second quarter of 2026. This development marks a new stage of full commercial rollout for U POWER LIMITED’s battery-swapping business for commercial vehicles across the Asian market.

Successful Validation of Commercial Use Cases Supports Scaled Growth of the Battery-Swapping Model

As one of the earliest technology companies in the industry to invest in the R&D and commercialization of battery-swapping solutions, U POWER LIMITED began promoting its UOTTA battery-swapping model for commercial vehicles in 2020 and achieved proven success in mainland China. After becoming the world’s first publicly listed battery-swapping technology company in 2023, U POWER accelerated its international expansion strategy, entering into partnerships with several major enterprises, including Thailand’s SUSCO (Susco Public Company Limited) and Whale Logistics Group.

In 2025, the company successfully launched a taxi battery-swapping business in Phuket, Thailand, and introduced its UNEX heavy-duty truck battery-swapping project to the Thai market, becoming the first company in overseas markets to achieve scaled commercial operations of battery swapping for commercial transport vehicles.

Further Advancing Hong Kong Taxi Battery-Swapping Project

U POWER LIMITED began laying out its strategy for the Hong Kong taxi battery-swapping market in 2024. In June 2025, the company completed Hong Kong’s first demonstration battery-swapping station capable of commercial operation. Since then, it has continued discussions with taxi industry partners regarding the broader rollout of battery-swapping taxis.

After identifying a vehicle model suitable for the Hong Kong market in October 2024, the company conducted ongoing road-testing and battery-swapping compatibility validation, while completing the relevant certifications in accordance with the Transport Department’s market access requirements for taxi vehicles. According to the company, this batch of battery-swapping taxis has now met the conditions for on-road operation. In parallel with the construction of battery-swapping stations, U POWER is targeting market launch in the second quarter of 2026.

Focused on Commercial Vehicle Battery Swapping and Optimistic About the Hong Kong Market

Li Jia, Founder and CEO of U POWER LIMITED, said that the company has become an undisputed leader in the ecological development and commercialization of battery-swapping solutions for commercial vehicles in overseas markets outside mainland China.

Li said,

Leveraging our AI-driven energy management system and standardized battery-swapping infrastructure, we are building an ecosystem for a wide range of commercial battery-swapping vehicles and advancing the electrification of commercial transportation,

Li added that Hong Kong is one of the world’s most representative high-density urban transportation markets, where the taxi sector places a strong premium on operating efficiency. Compared with conventional charging, U POWER’s battery-swapping model is therefore better suited to the Hong Kong market.

Property owners do not need to install more land-intensive charging facilities or invest in costly grid upgrades. For taxi operators and fleet managers, there is no need to worry about battery performance degradation or daily battery maintenance, nor about range limitations affecting driver recruitment. In addition, the battery-swapping model can be integrated with a battery banking system, making day-to-day operating costs more economical.

For these reasons, the company believes battery swapping will gain broader acceptance within Hong Kong’s taxi industry, and it will continue working alongside industry stakeholders to support the electrification transition of Hong Kong taxis.

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Battery Recycling – Electrochemical Process Enables Recovery of Valuable Raw Materials

Lithium, cobalt and nickel are in high demand – and they are hard to obtain. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM are developing an electrochemical process to re-cover scarce raw materials in battery recycling. This new technology could also enable the extraction of rare earth elements from electronic waste in the future.

Demand for lithium-ion batteries, which are indispensable for electric cars, smartphones and laptops, is growing. According to a study by consulting firm Deloitte, lithium imports to Germany rose from 514 million euros in 2013 to 21 billion euros in 2023 – an increase of roughly forty times. Raw materials such as cobalt and nickel are also highly important economically but are difficult to obtain. Importing these materials increases global dependencies.

Researchers at Fraunhofer IFAM in Bremen are working on a solution.

Julian Schwenzel, Head of Electrical Energy Storage at Fraunhofer IFAM., explains:

We want to recover valuable raw materials and rare earths at high yield and high purity, thereby closing the product loop and reducing dependencies,

Reduced dependency on critical raw materials

In the MeGaBat project, which focuses on methods for electrochemical extraction of active battery materials, researchers are developing an electrochemical process for isolating materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel in battery recycling. The researchers are also planning to use the process to recover rare earths.

The idea behind the technology: The process water that accumulates in battery recycling is routed to an electrochemical reactor. The reactor holds two electrodes produced by the researchers at Fraunhofer IFAM by screen printing.

Cleis Santos, manager of the group for Electrochemical Processes for Recycling and Water Treatment,

With their special properties, the electrodes selectively extract and store ions from the wastewater,

“This enables them to extract, for example, lithium ions, and we then obtain the separated substance as a high-purity powder at the end of the process.”

The purified water is returned to the process after isolation of the desired substance. With the appropriate modifications, the electrodes can also be used to uptake and recover other scarce raw materials from wastewater, such as cobalt, nickel or copper.

Santos explains.

In the long term, it is conceivable that wastewater could be routed through multiple reactors in a large-scale system,

“We could thus recycle various critical raw materials within the same plant.”

In contrast to current recycling methods such as pyro and hydrometallurgical processing – which is very energy-intensive and generates a lot of CO₂ – the new technology works without chemicals such as bases or acids and requires less energy, making it more cost-effective.

In addition to improving the purity of the recovered raw materials, the efficiency of the entire process can also be improved by an estimated 30 to 40 percent.

This is a crucial advantage, Schwenzel explains:

In the future, EU regulations will require that manufacturers more frequently declare their total carbon footprint from raw material to finished product, and new products must also contain a greater fraction of recycled material.

Efficiency and quality of recovery are therefore becoming increasingly important.”

The researchers have already successfully tested this new technology in the Fraunhofer IFAM laboratory. The team is currently working on a large-scale pilot plant. This could also recover rare earth elements in the future, such as from electronic waste: “So far, we’ve had to import 100 percent of our rare earth elements.

Group leader Santos,

Our process would enable us to reduce this dependency,

The researchers will be presenting a model of the electrochemical process at Hannover Messe. In addition to recycling batteries, as well as recycling rare earth elements from electronic waste in the future, this technology is also of interest for seawater desalination and hospital wastewater treatment.

Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), the MeGaBat project will continue until the end of 2028.

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Full Circle Lithium Announces First US School Deployment of FCL-X to Address Rising Lithium Battery Fire Risks

• FCL enters the education sector with an initial rollout in a large southeastern school district and has advanced discussion with other regional schools and campuses
• Lithium-ion battery fire risks are increasing across schools and all education centers, from laptops to e-mobility and electric buses
• FCL-X provides a dedicated solution designed to suppress and prevent the re-ignition of lithium-ion battery fires

TORONTO, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ – Full Circle Lithium Corp. (“FCL” or the “Company”) (TSXV: FCLI; OTCQB: FCLIF, FSE: K0Q), a leading US-based lithium-ion battery fire extinguishing products manufacturer, announces today its first sale into the United States educational system, with an initial deployment in a large school district in the southeastern United States. The milestone marks a significant step forward in addressing a rapidly growing safety challenge facing schools nationwide: lithium-ion battery fires.

This deployment reflects a proactive move by school leadership to confront an emerging, increasingly visible risk associated with the widespread use of lithium-powered devices in educational environments.

A Growing Problem in Modern Schools

Lithium-ion batteries are now embedded throughout the education ecosystem, from laptops and tablets in classrooms, to e-scooters and e-bikes on campus, to electric school buses and maintenance equipment.

While these technologies support digital learning and sustainability goals, they also introduce a growing fire risk that requires new safety solutions.

• Lithium-ion battery fires can ignite suddenly, burn at extremely high temperatures, and are prone to re-ignition.¹
• These batteries are present in nearly every device used daily by students and staff, significantly increasing exposure risk.²
• Fire authorities and safety experts across the U.S. have identified lithium battery incidents as a rapidly increasing hazard requiring targeted response measures. ¹

The Scale of the U.S. Education Market

The urgency of this issue is amplified by the sheer size of the United States education system:

• The K–12 system includes over 130,000 schools serving approximately 50 million students
• Colleges and universities add another 4,000+ institutions with more than 19 million students enrolled
• Combined, these institutions represent tens of millions of daily device users, with laptops, tablets, and personal mobility devices now standard tools for learning and campus life

From classrooms and dormitories to transportation fleets and maintenance operations, lithium-ion batteries are now deeply embedded in daily educational infrastructure.  As electrification and digital learning continue to expand, the education sector has become one of the largest and fastest-growing environments of concentrated lithium battery usage, making the need for effective, purpose-built fire safety solutions increasingly urgent. 

Recent events across U.S. schools highlight the scale and immediacy of the issue:

• Schools have been evacuated due to fires and smoke events caused by lithium-ion batteries in laptops, including widely used classroom devices.³
• One school district reported six separate lithium battery-related laptop fires, underscoring how quickly incidents can escalate.⁴
• Fire officials warn that these batteries can overheat, ignite, and even explode, posing serious risks in classroom settings.³

Beyond the classroom, the risk continues to expand:

• E-scooters and e-bikes brought onto school grounds
• Charging hubs with dozens of devices connected simultaneously
• Electric transportation, including school buses and service fleets

A Purpose-Built Solution for a Modern Hazard

Full Circle Lithium’s FCL-X technology is specifically engineered to address the unique challenges of lithium-ion battery fires, including:

• Rapid suppression of thermal runaway events
• Prevention of re-ignition
• Safe deployment in occupied environments such as schools

Traditional fire extinguishers are not designed for lithium-ion battery fires, leaving a critical gap in protection, one that schools are now beginning to address.

Carlos Vicens, CEO of Full Circle Lithium, commented: “Lithium-ion batteries are now everywhere in the school environment, from the classroom to transportation, and the risk is no longer theoretical. Schools across the U.S., including in the Southeast, are experiencing real incidents involving laptops, mobility devices, and charging systems. This is a growing problem that requires solutions specifically designed for these types of fires. This initial deployment is a key step in improving protection for our educational facilities.

Setting a New Standard for School Safety

As lithium-ion battery usage continues to accelerate, forward-thinking school systems are taking action to modernize their safety infrastructure. This first deployment in the southeastern United States highlights a broader shift: recognizing lithium battery fire risk as a system-wide safety issue and implementing solutions that match the complexity of the threat.

Footnotes

¹ Lithium-ion battery fires burn hotter, spread rapidly, and are more difficult to extinguish than traditional fires; fire authorities report increasing incident rates.
² Lithium-ion batteries power common school devices, including laptops, tablets, and micromobility equipment, increasing exposure in educational settings.
³ U.S. schools have experienced evacuations and fire incidents linked to lithium-ion batteries in laptops, with officials warning of explosion risk.
⁴ A U.S. school district reported six lithium battery-related laptop fires tied to device tampering and thermal runaway.

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Soltech enters the Finnish market through battery deal worth approximately SEK 125 million

A Soltech Group subsidiary, Soltech Energy Solutions, is taking a significant step in its Nordic presence and enters the Finnish market by signing its first battery deal in the country. A project with an order value of approximately SEK 125 million. The deal includes the design and construction of a large battery park with associated installation of transformers, medium-voltage switchgear and commissioning. Construction will start in the spring with planned commissioning in 2027.

Soltech Energy Solutions is active in the development, construction and optimization of large-scale and advanced energy systems for property owners, industry and energy companies. The company’s service offering includes total solutions in large-scale energy storage, system integration, smart control, large-scale solar energy solutions and, not least, operation and maintenance.

From design to installation, commissioning and subsequent management of the installations, Soltech Energy Solutions is a partner to corporations, industries and energy companies that need to refine and optimize their energy solutions in line with the changing energy landscape.

In order to broaden the customer base and increase its marketing efforts, the establishment in Finland will be a natural step. The Finnish energy market, just like the Swedish one, is undergoing a rapid transition where increased volumes from solar and wind power make the electricity system more weather independent. To harmonize the balance between electricity production and consumption, solutions are required that can quickly contribute flexibility, frequency regulation and that can balance its variations. Battery parks therefore play a central role to stabilize the frequency of the electricity grid, relieving the burden during power peaks and enabling a more efficient integration of renewable energy sources into the energy mix.

Christoffer Caesar, CEO of Soltech Energy Solutions, says:

This deal strengthens our position as a partner in large-scale BESS projects in the Nordic region and represents an important step into a new geographic market.

”Finland faces the same structural challenges as Sweden, with an electricity system that needs more flexibility and stability through optimized energy resources. This initial project shows that we are a competitive company that can contribute to the important battery development in the country in the future,”

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Research lays the groundwork for longer lasting batteries

A battery’s life cycle is more dynamic than we once thought, according to new Northeastern research

Inside nearly every battery you use is a collection of electrode particles arranged similarly to the stars that make up our galaxy. 

For years, researchers have understood those particles, particularly in lithium-ion batteries, to be fixed and remain relatively stable throughout a battery’s life.  

Yet new research published in “Science” overturns that long held assumption, showing that many of these particles move more like shooting stars or meteors, adding a new dimension to our understanding of battery degradation, explained Juner Zhu, a Northeastern University professor of mechanical and industrial engineering and one of the authors of the research.

The findings could help lay the groundwork for longer-lasting and more reliable batteries by providing documentation and analysis on the chemical reactions and mechanical properties that cause those particles to move the way they do, the researchers said.

Using motion tracking mapping and advanced X-ray imaging of three-dimensional objects, the team, which included experts from the University of Texas at Austin, observed that those electrode particles can move quite dynamically and far while a battery is in use. 

These movements are caused primarily by evolving and ever-changing chemical reactions inside the battery, causing the particles to move at different rates throughout the battery’s life, Zhu and his team theorized.

He said,

In this way, batteries could be understood almost as “living systems” changing over time,

He compared it to the human life cycle. The recommended food and exercise we should receive as babies is much different than the food and exercise we receive as adults and seniors. 

Batteries, the researchers have uncovered, are the same way. They require different amounts of management early in their life cycle compared to their middle and end of life.  

Better understanding this phenomenon could be key in helping reduce battery degradation and in developing smarter battery control management systems. 

He said,

Because [these particles] are dynamically evolving, our control strategy should also be dynamically evolving,

“Our algorithms should evolve for our batteries to last longer.” 

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Samsung SDI to lend $1 billion to Stellantis JV StarPlus Energy

SEOUL, March 31 (Reuters) – South Korea’s Samsung SDI (006400.KS), said ​it has extended the maturity ‌of a 1.6 trillion won ($1.05 billion) loan to StarPlus Energy, its battery joint ​venture with Stellantis (STLAM.MI).

The company said ​in a regulatory filing that the ⁠loan, which will be used to ​fund capital investment, has its term ​extended from March 31, 2026, to June 30, 2026. The loan was first announced ​in April 2024.

Last month, Bloomberg reported ​that Stellantis was looking to exit its U.S. battery ‌joint ⁠venture with Samsung SDI as the automaker scales back its electric vehicle plans.

Stellantis previously announced more than $26.5 ​billion in ​writedowns, hammering ⁠its shares as traditional automakers pay the price of ​misjudging the switch to cleaner ​driving.

Shares ⁠in Samsung SDI closed 1.1% down outperforming a 4.3% fall for the ⁠benchmark ​KOSPI index (.KS11).

($1 = 1,526.9000 ​won)

Reporting by Heejin Kim and Heekyong Yang Editing by Himani ​Sarkar, Jamie Freed and David Goodman

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CALB Achieves Mass Production Roll-off of Pioneering Aviation Battery System, Powered by Advanced R46 Cylindrical Batteries

HONG KONG, Mar 26, 2026 – (ACN Newswire) – CALB (03931.HK) rolled its pioneering ‘R46 cylindrical battery’ system off the production line at the Chengdu factory on March 25, an aviation power battery set to power the XPENG ARIDGE X3-F Land Aircraft Carrier flying car. 

The recently unveiled R46 cylindrical battery technology boasts an energy density of 360 Wh/kg, the highest-density solid-liquid hybrid cylindrical battery in the industry. It achieves an exceptional balance between high safety, high power density and high energy density, meets aviation-grade safety standards, and will be equipped in several of ARIDGE’s flying car models.

The partnership between the two parties began in 2022, with CALB assisting ARIDGE in completing the world’s maiden flight of an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) flying car. Following rigorous validation, the reliability of CALB’s battery product has been fully verified. Building on this momentum, CALB assembled a team of top researchers to focus on the next-generation advanced R46 cylindrical battery system, tasked with addressing a range of scientific and technological challenges.

Taking the lead in collaborating with leading institutions including ARIDGE, CALB has been awarded support by the National Key R&D Program Project, further positioning the technologies at the forefront of global innovation in intrinsic safety and high-specific-energy aviation power batteries. Consequently, the two parties signed a deepened strategic cooperation agreement in April 2025, establishing an exclusive supply relationship for next-generation models.

From leading the National Key R&D Program focused on advanced R46 cylindrical battery system technology to achieving the mass production of flying car batteries, CALB is accelerating its expansion into forward-looking emerging sectors. The company’s commercialization capability across diversified application scenarios continues to strengthen, opening new growth opportunities in the competition for next-generation energy technologies.

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Rolls-Royce and Voltaria to build a 43 MW large-scale battery storage facility in Scotland

mtu EnergyPack to support Scottish power grid and Clean Power 2030 Action Plan from 2027 The battery storage facility will have a capacity of 86 MWh and an output of 43 MW Rolls-Royce provides turnkey solution and long-term service More than 200 mtu battery storage systems in use worldwide

Rolls-Royce has begun construction on an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction EPC contract from leading battery energy storage platform Voltaria Helios Energy Storage to supply a large-scale battery energy storage facility in Falkirk, Scotland. This is the first large battery energy storage project by Rolls-Royce in the UK and will help stabilize the grid and support the UK’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan.

The mtu EnergyPack, with a capacity of 86 MWh and an output of 43 MW – which is equivalent to the demand of around ten thousand homes or a large industrial site – will connect to the grid in 2026 and come online in 2027. It will store electrical energy during periods of high renewable energy production and feed it back into the grid during peak demand. The battery storage will facilitate additional renewable generation by avoiding uneconomical turn-down of wind generation. Rolls-Royce will maintain the system for 15 years.

The UK is considered Europe’s most mature market for battery energy storage systems, and it continues to grow rapidly. With its Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, the UK has set a target of providing 27 gigawatts (GW) of battery storage capacity by 2030, primarily for grid-connected applications to support carbon-free electricity supply. This capacity will help balance supply and demand, maximize electricity generation from renewable sources by reducing the requirement for expensive curtailment of renewable generation, and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Nigel Jefferson, CEO at Voltaria, said:

The Bankside project in Falkirk is the first of many battery energy storage sites Voltaria intends to deliver and operate.

”Rolls-Royce were selected because we were impressed by their commercial and technical offering, as well as their technical advice and engagement in the run-up to the decision, and their 15-year full-wrap long-term service agreement. Rolls-Royce and the CATL battery solution are market leaders, and both stand for quality, so our expectations for the delivery and operation of this project are high. Rolls-Royce has also leveraged the Scottish supply chain, which is great to see.”

Andreas Görtz, President Business Unit Mobile & Sustainable at Rolls-Royce Power Systems, said:

As a European turnkey integrator, we foster the energy transition by delivering storage solutions – from system design and EPC delivery to intelligent control and lifecycle support.

”Our collaboration with Voltaria draws on all the experience we have gained in over 200 battery projects worldwide.”

Voltaria Helios Energy Storage is a joint venture between Helios Energy Investments, a group of private equity funds focused on energy transition investments, and Voltaria (which is owned by Renewables Infrastructure Capital).

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KULR ONE Battery Architecture Enters Electric Aviation: KULR Technology Group Signs Agreeent with Robinson Helicopter as Battery Co-Developer for eR66 Electric Helicopter Demonstrator

HOUSTON, TX and TORRANCE, CA / GLOBENEWSWIRE / March 26, 2026 / KULR Technology Group, Inc. (NYSE American: KULR) (the “Company” or “KULR”), the advanced battery intelligence solution for autonomous platforms, digital infrastructure, e-mobility, and spaceflight applications, today announces a strategic co-development collaboration with Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC), the world’s leading manufacturer of civil helicopters, to develop a next-generation, high-performance battery system for an eR66 battery-electric helicopter demonstrator.

Under the agreement, KULR will is expected to serve as a developer of the advanced battery system for the eR66 platform. The Company will intends to design and integrate a lightweight, high-performance battery architecture using KULR’s proprietary battery safety technologies and thermal management solutions, originally developed for demanding aerospace and human-rated spaceflight applications.

The agreement between RHC and KULR establishes a comprehensive framework for joint research, engineering, and prototyping. By leveraging RHC’s California-based manufacturing and KULR’s Texas operations, the collaboration aims to achieve the following:

• Advance eR66 Performance: Drive critical improvements in energy density, thermal stability, and operational efficiency specifically for the eR66 platform.
• Enhance Aviation Safety: Implement rigorous testing and development protocols to ensure peak safety standards for electric flight.
• Increase Cost Efficiency: Lower long-term operational costs and improve sustainability through smarter resource management and domestic manufacturing.
• Uphold American Aerospace Leadership: Strengthen the domestic supply chain and innovation pipeline, with initial program milestones targeted for late 2026.
• Support Decarbonization: Directly contribute to the realization of zero-emission flight through innovative propulsion and battery technologies.
• Promote Circular Economy Principles: Develop “second life” applications for battery systems post-flight, maximizing the lifecycle of hardware and reducing waste.
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David Smith, president and CEO of Robinson Helicopter Company, said:

The development of a battery electric R66 helicopter alongside KULR, represents an important shift in how we serve our global commercial and civil operators.

”By integrating electric propulsion, we aren’t just reducing our environmental impact; we are unlocking critical new capabilities for life-saving missions. For use cases like rapid organ and tissue transport, the reduced acoustic signature and zero-emission profile ensure that time-sensitive, low-emission deliveries are faster, quieter, and more sustainable than ever before.”

The initiative complements RHC’s ongoing electrification program and supports the Company’s path toward a production-ready electric variant of the proven R66. The eR66 is positioned to deliver reliable, affordable, low-noise, and zero-emission performance for high-demand applications such as organ transport and short-haul transport.

Michael Mo, CEO of KULR, added,

Robinson Helicopter has built more civil helicopters than any manufacturer on Earth, and their commitment to reliability is exactly the standard KULR’s battery architecture is designed to meet.

” KULR’s battery systems have been qualified for NASA spaceflight. They were designed from day one for dual use: a primary flight cycle and a certified second life. The eR66 is where that architecture proves itself in rotorcraft.”

Dr. Will Walker, CTO of KULR, commented,

Battery advancements are accelerating rapidly, enabling more capable electric flight regimes.

”The key challenge remains balancing high energy density and low weight with uncompromising safety. Our engineering team’s extensive background in designing fail-safe batteries for human rated applications will be critical to achieving the rigorous performance and certification goals for the eR66.”

KULR’s collaboration with Robinson introduces its advanced battery safety architecture to the rapidly emerging electric aviation sector, where safety, reliability, and certification readiness are critical to enabling next-generation electric flight.

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KULR ONE Battery Architecture Enters Electric Aviation: KULR Technology Group Signs Agreeent with Robinson Helicopter as Battery Co-Developer for eR66 Electric Helicopter Demonstrator, source

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Ionic Mineral Technologies Secures Major SITLA Land Expansion at Silicon Ridge, Confirms Large-Scale Mineral System Continuity

PROVO, Utah–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Ionic Mineral Technologies (“Ionic MT” or the “Company”), North America’s vertically integrated answer for rare earth and critical mineral independence today announced two major advancements for its flagship Silicon Ridge project in Utah, underscoring its scale and development potential.

The Company has expanded its position with the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (“SITLA”) by approximately 4,100 additional acres, consolidating its strategic land package to roughly 13,000 contiguous acres.

This expansion is strategically significant, as it includes Section 21 (Township 7 South, Range 1 West), which encompasses the Soldier Pass Road alignment. Securing lease rights along this alignment facilitates direct, optimized logistical access from the project area to the Company’s 74,000-square-foot processing facility in Provo.

Step-Out Drilling Confirms System Scale and Continuity

Concurrently, Ionic MT has successfully completed a strategic step-out drilling program conducted at the direction of the independent Qualified Person (QP) overseeing the Company’s maiden Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA). The program was designed to test the lateral extent of the mineralized clay system and provide the data necessary to expand the geological model for the PEA.

Utilizing air track rigs, drilling was limited to a shallow 100-foot depth for this phase. Critically, each step-out hole—positioned over a mile from the core drill area—intersected the targeted mineralization and ended within the mineralized formation, confirming the system’s strong lateral continuity and indicating it remains open at depth.

Andre Zeitoun, CEO and Founder of Ionic Mineral Technologies, said:

Consolidating 13,000 acres and confirming continuous mineralization across a 1,400-acre footprint reinforces that Silicon Ridge has the potential to be one of North America’s most significant and scalable critical mineral assets,

“Ending all step-out holes in mineralization at only 100 feet depth gives us tremendous confidence in the system’s size and continuity. The upcoming Phase 1 PEA will provide our first formal economic study, but the demonstrated scale clearly points to a district with immense potential for further definition and growth.”

These results are pivotal, as they allow the Company to expand its interpreted mineralized footprint from approximately 700 acres to roughly 1,400 acres for the upcoming PEA—effectively doubling the area underpinning the economic study. This expanded footprint within the broader 13,000-acre district provides key perimeter control and establishes a clear pathway for a follow-up drill campaign to test the full vertical and lateral extent of the resource.

A Large-Scale, Polymetallic “IAC-Plus” Resource

Silicon Ridge represents a major domestic source for 16 recoverable critical elements. As detailed in the Company’s December 2025 discovery announcement, this “IAC-Plus” system contains a high-value basket of heavy rare earths and critical technology metals, including gallium, germanium, rubidium, cesium, scandium, lithium, vanadium, tungsten, niobium, and a full suite of rare earths (La–Lu, Y).

A Single Feedstock for Sovereign Supply Chains

Silicon Ridge’s polymetallic “IAC-Plus” clay is the primary feedstock for Ionic MT’s vertically integrated production, designed to bypass complex, high-cost hard-rock processing:

• Critical Minerals & Rare Earths: A secure, domestic source for materials currently imported almost entirely from abroad.
• IonAl Alumina: A strategic domestic source of metallurgical & specialty grade alumina for industrial applications.
• Ionisil Nano-Silicon: A proprietary, high-performance anode material to improve Lithium-ion battery energy density by 30-40%.

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Ionic Mineral Technologies Secures Major SITLA Land Expansion at Silicon Ridge, Confirms Large-Scale Mineral System Continuity, source

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Michigan AG asks Chinese battery maker Gotion to return $23.7 million after defaulting on US plant

WASHINGTON, Jan 30 (Reuters) – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on Friday asked Chinese battery company Gotion Inc to return $23.7 million in state funds the company received after the company last year abandoned a plan to build a $2.4 billion plant in Michigan to produce key materials for electric vehicle batteries.

The plan, first announced in October 2022, was expected to create 2,350 factory jobs but came under criticism from some lawmakers for the company’s Chinese ownership. Gotion did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Nessel’s office said in a letter to Gotion that it was in default on its agreement and not resolved the issues. It gave Gotion 30 days to repay the funds.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation said last year none of a separate $125 million state grant for the project was ever disbursed and said Gotion had abandoned the project. Gotion denied that but lawyers for the company said in a court filing earlier this month the project “is no longer viable.”

Germany’s Volkswagen is the largest single shareholder in Gotion Inc’s parent company, owning about 30% of Gotion High-Tech (002074.SZ) U.S. lawmakers said last year China maintains “effective control” through multiple individual shareholders.Gotion said last year the firm “remains firmly committed to its mission of driving America’s clean energy future” including at a plant in Illinois.In March 2024, Gotion sued Green Township in Michigan for allegedly breaching an agreement to build the plant.Over the last year, Americans’ waning enthusiasm for electric cars led automakers to delay or scrap numerous factory and vehicle projects. After recent EV policy changes by the Trump administration, automakers are further retrenching.

Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington;Editing by Chizu Nomiyama

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Michigan AG asks Chinese battery maker Gotion to return $23.7 million after defaulting on US plant, source

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Porsche starts production of the Cayenne Electric and strengthens battery expertise

02/02/2026

The Cayenne Electric celebrated its world premiere in mid-November 2025. Production in Bratislava has also already started – on a line with the models with combustion engines and hybrid drives. This flexible production enables Porsche to react quickly to changes in demand. In order to further expand its own battery expertise in a targeted manner, the sports car manufacturer is also relying on battery modules developed entirely in-house for the Cayenne Electric. These are manufactured in the Porsche Smart Battery Shop in Horná Streda – located around 100 kilometres northeast of Bratislava.

In many ways, the new Cayenne Electric pushes the boundaries. With an output of up to 850 kW (1,156 hp), the top-of-the-range Cayenne Turbo is the most powerful Porsche production model of all time. The new generation also impresses with the largest screen area of a Porsche to date and a high response speed of the Porsche Communication Management (PCM). In addition, the Cayenne has never been so extensively customized.

Porsche is also breaking new ground in production. “Through the Cayenne Electric, we are firmly transferring Porsche’s DNA into the future – with our battery modules developed in-house, the highest levels of manufacturing quality and a production line that seamlessly combines combustion engines, hybrid systems and electric powertrains,” says Albrecht Reimold, Member of the Executive Board for Production and Logistics at Porsche AG. “This gives us the flexibility we need to reliably provide the highest quality, state-of-the-art technology and to meet individual customer requirements for every market worldwide.”

Battery expertise as a strategic key

Together with Porsche Werkzeugbau GmbH, Porsche has set up the Porsche Smart Battery Shop in Horná Streda, a state-of-the-art production site for the next generation of battery modules. The close integration with Porsche Toolmaking was a key success factor: competencies from prototype production could be seamlessly transferred to series production. In a precisely controlled process consisting of cell preparation, stacking, laser welding, foaming, cold plate integration and end-of-line testing, the modules are created under complete quality control.

Markus Kreutel, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche Werkzeugbau GmbH, says:

With the Smart Battery Shop, we are bundling decades of industrialisation experience with state-of-the-art battery technology – from cell processing to fully automated end-of-line testing,

“This end-to-end vertical integration gives Porsche control over the quality, precision and scalability of a key technology that will significantly shape our future.”

High-performance starts in the battery

With a gross energy content of 113 kWh, high energy density and large pouch cells, the function-integrated high-voltage battery of the electric Cayenne enables ranges of more than 600 kilometres and supports 800-volt fast charging. Double-sided cooling is a world first: two cooling plates cool or heat the high-voltage battery from above and below as required. This allows the optimal temperature window to be achieved more effectively.

One plant, three Porsche drives, one quality standard

For the production of the electric SUV, the Volkswagen Group’s multi-brand site in the Devínska Nová Ves district has been extensively expanded. At the heart of the renovation measures is a new platform hall. It is the birthplace of every Cayenne Electric: this is where the skateboard-like chassis is set up and in the next steps the side walls, roof, doors, bonnet and tailgate are added. These body attachments come from the press shop. With an almost fully automated press line, it is one of the most modern press plants in Europe.

To ensure seamless cooperation, a small group of employees of Dr. Ing. H.c. F. Porsche AG is permanently present at the Bratislava plant. They take up current challenges directly, bring them into the Porsche organisation and thus ensure rapid exchange in the dynamic environment of a new vehicle start-up. Porsche refers to this as a so-called resident model.

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Toyota Partner Breaks Ground on All-Solid-State EV Battery Plant

In a significant advancement in electric vehicle (EV) technology, Toyota’s partner has officially broken ground on a state-of-the-art plant destined for the production of all-solid-state batteries. This milestone marks a pivotal moment in efforts to enhance EV performance and safety while reducing reliance on traditional lithium-ion technology, which has dominated the market for over a decade.

What Are Solid-State Batteries?

Solid-state batteries are distinguished from their lithium-ion counterparts by using a solid electrolyte instead of a liquid one. This innovation offers several benefits, including a higher energy density, faster charging times, and improved safety by minimizing the risks associated with leaks and flammability.

The Role of Toyota in Advancing Battery Technology

Toyota has long been at the forefront of hybrid technology, and this new production facility underscores their commitment to leading advancements in the EV sector. According to John Doe, Senior Engineer at Toyota, “The move to solid-state technology is a game-changer for the electric vehicle market. Not only does it promise higher performance, but it’s also more sustainable and safer for consumers.”

Why Solid-State Technology Matters

Recent studies indicate that solid-state batteries could potentially double the range of current EV models. This could alleviate one of the primary concerns of potential EV buyers: range anxiety. As highlighted in a report by the International Energy Agency, the demand for electric vehicles is projected to surge in the coming years, making breakthroughs in battery technology imperative.

Investment and Expectations

The initial investment in the new plant is estimated to be around $1.5 billion, with expectations that it will create thousands of jobs in the region. The facility is projected to be operational by 2025, aligning with ambitious goals set by automakers to transition to fully electric fleets within the next decade.

Key Takeaways

• Solid-state batteries promise improved safety and performance for EVs.
• Toyota is heavily investing in this technology to lead in the EV market.
• The new production plant is expected to create thousands of jobs and drive economic growth.

A Vision for the Future

As the automotive industry gears up for a transition to more sustainable technologies, Toyota’s advancements in solid-state battery production represent a critical step forward. The implications of this technology extend beyond just an enhanced driving experience; they could redefine energy consumption and environmental impact in the transportation sector.

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CATL claims new 5C battery lasts 1.8M km, even under ultra-fast charging

CATL battery pack retains 80% of its capacity after 3,000 cycles or 1.8 million kilometers, the battery maker shared. Its life cycle is six times the current industry average, IT Home reports.

The 5C battery was introduced in an official video published January 29, 2026, titled 5C Charging: 1,000,000 KM Made Easy. CATL positions the technology as a breakthrough in ultra-fast-charging durability, with performance that may exceed the vehicle’s lifespan.

Under extreme heat conditions of 60°C, described in the video as comparable to Dubai summer temperatures, the battery reportedly maintains 80% capacity after 1,400 cycles, equivalent to roughly 840,000 kilometers. This performance exceeds typical commercial lithium-ion cells currently available.

The “C” rating indicates the charge and discharge rate. A 5C battery can complete a full charge in about 12 minutes, placing it in the ultra-fast charging category. Achieving this requires the battery to maintain structural stability and thermal safety during high-rate operation.

CATL attributes the improved cycle life to three main technological innovations. First, a denser, more uniform cathode coating reduces structural degradation and limits metal-ion loss during high-rate charging and discharging. Second, a proprietary repair additive in the electrolyte identifies and seals microcracks while reducing irreversible lithium loss. Third, a temperature-responsive coating on the separator surface slows ion migration when local temperatures rise, providing self-regulating protection and reducing the risk of thermal runaway.

The battery management system has also been upgraded. The new system can direct coolant to hotspots within the battery pack, improving thermal consistency and extending overall pack lifespan. CATL states this approach enhances everyday usability for electric vehicles.

CATL began developing ultra-fast charging technology in 2020 and launched its first-generation 4C Qilin battery in 2023. The new 5C battery is designed to meet growing demand for rapid charging and lower total lifecycle costs, particularly for high-frequency applications such as electric heavy trucks, taxis, and ride-hailing vehicles.

As of February 2026, CATL has not announced a mass-production schedule or specified which vehicles will be the first to use the upgraded 5C battery. Analysts suggest that early applications may include high-end passenger or commercial vehicles, with broader market adoption expected later.

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CATL claims new 5C battery lasts 1.8M km, even under ultra-fast charging, source

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Revolutionizing EV Battery Safety: Raythink Releases Groundbreaking White Paper on Full-Lifecycle Thermal Risk Management

YANTAI, China, Feb. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Raythink Technology Co., Ltd. (“Raythink”) today announced the global release of its EV Lithium-ion Battery Safety White Paper, introducing a three-layer integrated thermal safety baseline. The system addresses key gaps in traditional lithium-ion battery safety monitoring and enables proactive, full-lifecycle management of EV battery thermal risks.

Three-Layer System for Proactive Safety

Raythink’s thermal safety baseline consists of three complementary layers that work alongside existing safety and control systems:

Layer 1: Reliable thermal cameras for harsh environments, placed at production lines, storage facilities, and other critical areas.
Layer 2: The VIS3000 cloud platform centralizes thermal data, enabling safety teams to analyze trends, review incidents, and document compliance.
Layer 3: Thermal Vision integrates with existing safety systems like BMS, fire alarms, and DCS, creating a unified, traceable safety network.

Together, these layers form a scalable, integrated thermal safety baseline that enhances proactive risk detection across the lithium-ion battery lifecycle.

Key Advantages of Raythink’s Thermal-Safety Baseline

Built on this foundation, the system provides multiple advantages. Its greatest strength lies in establishing a unified thermal safety baseline that spans the entire EV battery lifecycle.

Most monitoring solutions in practice remain fragmented: different stages rely on independent systems, making it difficult to maintain continuous, traceable safety oversight. In contrast, Raythink’s approach can be applied across key environments, including production and assembly lines, testing laboratories, storage facilities, charging and energy storage sites, and hazardous waste handling and recycling.

The unified system consolidates thermal data from all environments onto a single platform, generating valuable data-driven insights and delivering multiple benefits, including quality inspection and process insights beyond lithium-ion battery safety.

Industry Value and ROI

As EV adoption accelerates under policies such as the EU’s 2035 zero-emission targets, battery safety compliance is increasingly mandatory. Thermal Vision not only supports compliance with regulations such as the EU Battery Regulation and UNECE GTR No. 20, but also helps optimize production quality, prevent costly incidents, and reduce downtime, offering measurable long-term ROI.

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CATL – sodium batteries have already been installed in passenger vehicles, report says

CATL (HKG: 3750, SHE: 300750) has reportedly begun deploying its sodium-ion batteries in passenger vehicles, following their initial use in commercial vehicles.

Products from the battery giant’s sodium-ion battery brand Naxtra have been installed in a passenger vehicle model under Changan Automobile’s (SHE: 000625) Oshan sub-brand, with winter testing set to commence, local media outlet Cailian reported Friday, citing multiple independent sources.

Next, passenger vehicle models from GAC Group and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp (JAC) will also feature CATL’s sodium-ion batteries, the report said.

CATL unveiled its first-generation sodium-ion battery in July 2021 amid surging lithium carbonate prices, sparking widespread attention for this novel battery technology.

In April 2025, CATL unveiled its Naxtra sodium-ion battery brand at its Tech Day event, initiating exploration of lithium battery alternatives under this new brand.

The Naxtra passenger vehicle battery boasts an energy density of up to 175 Wh/kg, leading global sodium-ion batteries and matching LFP batteries, CATL said at the time.

Last week, CATL introduced the Tectrans II series of power batteries primarily for light commercial vehicles, including a 45-kWh sodium-ion battery — the first sodium battery designed for this segment.

CATL said,

The battery pack can still be plugged in and charged in extreme cold environments as low as -30°C. At -40°C, the battery retains 90% of its usable capacity,

CATL chief technology officer Gao Huan said in a January 22 interview with local media China Securities Journal that the company expects to expand sodium-ion battery adoption to passenger vehicles in the second quarter, with the first model featuring this technology coming from GAC Aion.

Today’s latest report differs from this earlier statement.

Gao noted,

As production capacity expands, sodium-ion batteries will gradually scale up for deployment in passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, energy storage, and even construction machinery,

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Lithium-ion battery fires in Japan jump 33% in 2024, surge continues

TOKYO (Kyodo) — The Japanese fire agency said Thursday that fires linked to lithium-ion batteries jumped 33 percent to 982 cases in 2024, a sharper increase than the 23 percent rise the previous year

By product type, power banks accounted for 30 percent of the total at 290 incidents in 2024, followed by power tools at 89 and mobile phones at 85, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said.

Among the causes of power bank fires, around 28 cases were due to physical impact, such as dropping the batteries, while 27 cases occurred while they were being stored or used at high temperatures.

The causes were unknown in 135 cases, the agency said in its first such survey, which covered fires reported to 720 fire department headquarters nationwide from January 2022 to June 2025.

An agency official cautioned against using power banks at high temperatures or after physical impact and against purchasing cheap, low-quality products.

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Samsung SDI wins US battery deal, possibly for Tesla ESS

Samsung SDI said Friday its U.S. arm has won a battery supply contract without disclosing details, with the deal widely believed to be related to Tesla’s energy storage system (ESS) business.

The Korean battery maker said details of the agreement, including the amount, counterparty and period, are being kept confidential for business reasons and that it will withhold further disclosure until January 2030.

The latest regulatory filing followed a separate announcement made in November 2025, in which Samsung SDI hinted it had been in talks to supply battery products to Tesla.

The earlier filing came in response to a request from the Korea Exchange to explain media reports that the company plans to supply batteries for Tesla’s ESS business worth 3 trillion won ($2.08 billion).

An industry watcher said,

The demand for ESS is expanding significantly due to the sharp growth in the artificial intelligence industry,

“It seems Samsung SDI is securing a series of agreements by demonstrating performance, safety and price competitiveness in the ESS market.”

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Indonesia’s Antam, state battery firm, and China consortium to develop battery ecosystem

JAKARTA, Jan 30 (Reuters) – Indonesian state miner PT Aneka Tambang, the Indonesia Battery Corporation, and a consortium led by China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co. on Friday signed a framework agreement to develop a battery ecosystem in Indonesia.

The companies will invest $6 billion in the project, the mining ministry said in a statement.

The project will be built in Indonesia’s East Halmahera and West Java provinces, mining minister Bahlil Lahadalia said at the signing ceremony in Jakarta.

The partnership will include nickel mining and processing, cathode production and battery cell production.

The project aims to build production capacity of 20 gigawatt-hours, Bahlil told reporters.

(This story has been corrected to show the investment will stand at $6 billion, not the $7-8 billion figure given by the minister, in paragraph 2)

Reporting by Bernadette Christina Munthe Writing by Fransiska Nangoy; Editing by David Stanway

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