Altech – Cerenergy® Battery 50% Greenhouse Gas Emissions Of Lithium-Ion Batteries

Altech Batteries Limited (Altech/the Company) (ASX: ATC and FRA: A3Y) is pleased to announce that the Company has engaged the Centre of International Climate and Environmental Research (CICERO), associated with the University of Oslo, for a green accreditation of the CERENERGY® battery and project.

Highlights

• CICERO engaged to evaluate green credentials of CERENERGY® battery project
• Independent studies cited on Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) for both lithium-ion and CERENERGY® batteries
• Comprehensive analysis performed of the life cycle of both battery types
• CERENERGY® batteries exhibit a minimum 50% lower GHG emissions compared to lithium- ion batteries
• Superior environmental performance and footprint
• CERENERGY® eliminates the need for critical metals such as lithium, cobalt, copper, graphite, and manganese
• ESG reporting program initiated - World Economic Forum ESG Framework

The Company has enlisted the services of CICERO to conduct an external assessment of its environmental credentials. CICERO is renowned for its expertise in providing independent evaluations for green credentials, particularly within the green bond market. Previously, the Company sought CICERO's accreditation for its Silumina AnodesTM project, which received a "Light Green" rating.

With the transition towards renewable energy sources in the global energy sector, the importance of efficient energy storage systems is growing rapidly. Grid storage batteries have emerged as a highly promising solution to address the intermittency and variability associated with renewable energy sources. Altech is well aware of this trend and has strategically focused its efforts on the grid storage battery market, exclusively targeting this sector with its revolutionary Sodium-Chloride Solid State CERENERGY® batteries. Whilst lithium-ion batteries currently dominate the emerging grid storage sector, the following analysis examines the carbon footprint of the CERENERGY® battery in comparison to its competitors.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) Footprint

A study titled "Life Cycle Assessment of Sodium-Nickel-Chloride Batteries (CERENERGY® batteries)" conducted by the Sustainable Technologies Laboratory at Bochum University of Applied Sciences in Bochum examines the ecological implications of different battery types, specifically lead acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries, and sodium-chloride CERENERGY® batteries. The study focused on greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) as a key parameter and incorporates two scenarios related to end-of-life (EoL) considerations, including waste management and battery lifespan.

The results indicate that the GHG emissions of CERENERGY® batteries range from 9.1 to 22.7 g CO2eq per kWh (with an average of 16 g CO2eq per kWh) discharged and consumed, compared to 31.3 g CO2eq for lithium-ion batteries and 122.1 g CO2eq for lead-acid batteries. The life cycle assessment concludes that CERENERGY® batteries exhibit a GHG footprint of at least 50% lower than that of lithium-ion batteries. This outcome aligns with the fact that CERENERGY® batteries do not rely on critical metals such as lithium, cobalt, copper, graphite, and manganese, which are associated with high GHG emissions from mining and extraction processes. Instead, CERENERGY® batteries employ sodium-chloride (common table salt) and nickel, of which nickel is also used in lithium-ion batteries. The production of lithium-ion batteries has faced criticism due to its negative environmental impact.

Use of Renewable Power

The planned CERENERGY® battery plant in Saxony, with a capacity of 100 MWh, has been meticulously designed to minimise its greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint by leveraging renewable energy sources. To illustrate, the tunnel kiln utilised for sintering the ceramic tubes will be powered by electricity instead of natural gas, enabling the utilisation of renewable power. In fact, the entire factory will completely abstain from natural gas usage. All heating systems within the plant have been specifically designed for renewable electrical heating. The site's total power requirement is approximately 5 MWh, and negotiations are currently underway to secure a renewable power supply for the facility.

On Site Renewable Generation

The 100 MWh CERENERGY® battery plant has been designed with an expansive factory roof space dedicated to housing photovoltaic panels. These panels harness solar energy during daylight hours, generating renewable power. To optimise energy usage, the plant employs multiple banks of 1 MWh GridPacks to store excess energy during the day for use during nighttime hours. By combining photovoltaic panels with energy storage capabilities, the CERENERGY® battery plant demonstrates a commitment to sustainable practices.

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