Altech – Two 60 KWh Battery Pack Prototypes In Production

Altech Batteries Limited (ASX: ATC, FRA: A3Y) is pleased to announce that two prototypes of the 60 KWh (ABS60) battery pack are currently being produced and fabricated at the Fraunhofer IKTS facility in Hermsdorf, Germany. Once completed, the battery packs will undergo cycling testing under extreme conditions, and they will be available for testing at customer premises.

Highlights

• Final market product prototype under fabrication - 60 KWh (ABS60) battery pack
• Produced at the Fraunhofer IKTS facility in Hermsdorf, Germany
• 60 KWh battery pack design launched on 7 November 2022
• Extensive cycling simulations to evaluate the temperature profile
• Design freeze for prototype fabrication
• Prototypes for customer testing and qualification process

The design for the CERENERGY® Sodium Chloride Solid State (SCSS) 60 KWh battery pack (ABS60), destined for the renewable energy and grid storage markets, was launched by Altech and its joint venture partner Fraunhofer, on 7 November 2022. This battery pack boasts a rated operating voltage of 600 volts at 100 amp (A).

Following the launch, the joint venture carried out extensive cycling simulations to evaluate the temperature profile of the internal components of the battery. Typically, the charging process involves a net endothermic (heat energy absorption) reaction, whereas the discharge process leads to an exothermic (heat energy release) reaction. The simulations indicate that the battery can undergo charge and discharge cycling while maintaining stable internal temperatures without overheating, even under extreme conditions such as a desert environment, where the ambient temperature was recorded at 60°C. No instances of overheating were reported during these simulations.

Based on the results of these simulations, the specifications for the 60 KWh battery packs have been finalised, and orders for materials required for the production of two prototype batteries have been placed. This process involves the manufacture of 480 ceramic solid-state cells, along with the production and procurement of auxiliary equipment including but not limited to cabling, module structures, composite isolation cabinet and battery management system (BMS).

On September 14, 2022, Altech announced the joint venture agreement with Fraunhofer IKTS, a world- leading German battery institute, to commercialise the CERENERGY® Sodium Chloride Solid State (SCSS) Battery, which is a game-changing alternative to lithium-ion batteries in the grid storage market. The joint venture company will be majority-owned (75%) by Altech and its associated entity Altech Advanced Materials AG. The Company will focus on commercialising a 100 MWh project to be constructed on Altech's industrial site in Schwarze Pumpe, Germany. The CERENERGY® batteries are designed for a lifespan of more than 15 years, are fire and explosion-proof, and can operate in extreme cold and desert climates. The battery technology uses table salt and is free of lithium, cobalt, graphite, and copper, thus eliminating exposure to critical metal price rises and supply chain concerns. The Altech-Fraunhofer joint venture is currently commercialising a 100 MWh per annum SCSS battery plant, specifically tailored for the stationary energy storage market, and located on Altech's site in Saxony, Germany.

On 29 March 2023, Altech launched the design for its 1.0 MWh GridPack (ABS1000) battery system. The pre-installed solution is equipped with up to 18 ABS60 60 KWh battery packs connected to a pack power management system. The Altech GridPacks are designed with the "plug and play" feature to ensure that they can be easily installed in remote locations.

The Altech GridPacks have been engineered to ensure complete protection from both dust and any external environments. This means that there is no need for any additional shelters or buildings to house the Altech GridPack batteries, and they can be safely installed outdoors in any weather conditions. The Altech GridPacks will be constructed using a sea container design, which facilitates their easy transportation by sea or road to the installation site, as well as ensuring simple installation.

Unlike other mega battery pack designs on the market, these GridPacks can be stacked on top of each other. This minimises the battery footprint, and permits easy scalability to meet any energy storage requirements.

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