Altech Batteries

In 2007, a company known as Altech Chemicals was established in Australia, co-founded by lawyer Luke Atkins. Listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, the company initially focused on mineral exploration and high-purity alumina production. A significant pivot occurred when the company identified a major opportunity in the burgeoning battery technology space, eventually rebranding to Altech Batteries Ltd in February 2023 to reflect its new focus. The turning point came with two key projects in Germany. The first, the Silumina Anodes™ project, developed a proprietary technology to coat silicon and graphite particles with a nano-layer of alumina. This process addresses the challenge of silicon swelling in lithium-ion batteries, promising a significant increase in energy density and battery life. The second, and arguably more disruptive project, is a joint venture with Germany's Fraunhofer IKTS institute to commercialize CERENERGY®, a sodium-alumina solid-state battery. This technology uses common table salt and is free from lithium, cobalt, and graphite, targeting the grid storage market. To advance these initiatives, Altech established pilot plants in Saxony, Germany. In September 2022, the company announced a pivotal 75% majority-owned joint venture with Fraunhofer IKTS to build a 100 MWh CERENERGY® battery production facility, backed by Fraunhofer's eight years and €35 million in research. This strategic move positions Altech to produce batteries estimated to be 40% cheaper than their lithium-ion counterparts, with a lifespan of over 15 years and the ability to operate in extreme temperatures.