New $9.4m Australian CRC-P Project led by Calix to develop advanced batteries.
The CRC-P (Cooperative Research Centre Projects) program is an Australian Government initiative of the Department
of Industry, Innovation and Science to support short-term industry-led collaborations to develop important new technologies, products and services that deliver tangible outcomes.
Today, the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, the Hon. Karen Andrews, announced the $9.4m project “The CRC-P for Advanced Hybrid Batteries”. The project, which Calix will lead and will receive $3m in funding over three years, will be a collaboration between Calix, the Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM) and BatTRI-Hub at Deakin University (led by Prof. Maria Forsyth and Prof Patrick Howlett) and Boron Molecular Pty Ltd.
The project aims to develop high performance, low-cost, fast charge-discharge lithium-ion hybrid batteries based on nano- active electrode materials manufactured by Calix in its BATMn reactor at Bacchus Marsh, Victoria and ionic liquid electrolytes developed by Deakin University and Boron Molecular.
Coin-cell fabrication, electrochemical screening and testing of Calix’s highly porous “nano-active” electrode materials (such as manganese oxide (Mn3O4) cathodes, and titanium oxide (TiO2) anodes) and ionic liquid electrolytes will be carried out by IFM at Deakin. BAT-TRI-HUB will manufacture pouch cell and battery pack prototypes which will be supplied to global manufacturers and customers for performance evaluation. The CRC-P aims to establish a platform for a sustainable Australian manufacturing industry delivering high performance, affordable, and more recyclable lithium ion hybrid batteries.
Battery technology development is rapidly progressing, with novel sodium and magnesium batteries on the horizon. Calix is deeply engaged with leading researchers worldwide to ensure that its “nano-active” materials are considered as the basis for the next generation of batteries.
In Australia, Calix is an active member of the Australian Research Council’s Industrial Transformation Training
Centre for Future Energy Storage Technologies (storEnergy), coordinated by Deakin University, through projects with Monash University and QUT, and with the European Union’s Polystorage project. These networks give Calix unique access to world leaders in future battery technology developments.
Director of storEnergy, Professor Maria Forsyth, said:
“BatTRI-Hub’s cutting-edge prototyping facility will be used in the project to produce pouch cell batteries, optimise their performance and provide batteries for trials with global customers. We are thrilled to be working with Calix and Boron Molecular to utilise the materials manufactured in regional Victoria as the next step towards developing next generation batteries in Australia.”
Calix’s Head of Battery and Catalyst R&D Program, Dr Matt Boot-Handford, said:
“Calix is uniquely placed to accelerate the development and commercialisation of high-performance electrochemical energy storage devices. We have a patented and proven approach to making highly porous “nano-active” materials for both anodes and cathodes, a commercial scale production reactor, short-term projects in place through the CRC-P to demonstrate batteries using our materials, and long term national and global linkages to expertise in batteries through StorEnergy and Polystorage.”
Calix’s Managing Director and CEO, Dr Phil Hodgson, said:
“When Calix listed on the ASX in July 2018 we had early results on our materials for batteries that were very promising. Since then, we have completed construction of a unique capability with our BATMn reactor in Bacchus Marsh, and have advanced the use of Calix’s products for batteries through our network of collaborators across the globe, with projects such as the CRC-P and StorEnergy in Australia, and Polystorage in Europe. We look forward to working with our partners to achieve breakthroughs in future battery technology development.”
Calix commences commissioning of BATMn reactor, on time and on budget.
Calix is pleased to announce it has completed construction and has commenced commissioning its BATMn reactor, on time and on budget. The reactor is key to developing the new materials for advanced batteries. Built
at a cost of $2.3m, with $0.8m funded through the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Fund, the reactor is an electrically powered version of the Calix Flash Calcining technology. It will be a key provider of novel materials for the recently announced CRC-P for Advanced Hybrid Batteries, and the storEnergy consortium.
New $4.8m European CO2 Capture Project “ANICA” – Calix to receive $0.5m funding to advance its technology.
Calix, through its UK subsidiary, Calix (Europe) Ltd, is a partner in the $4.8m project, ANICA, that has been awarded funding under the EU ACT-CCS Program to capture the emissions from cement. ANICA is a German-UK-Greece consortium of 11 partners which will develop a novel Indirect Heating Calcium Looping Technology, developed by Technical University Darmstadt. Calix will assess the use of this technology to capture CO2 from the combustion gas and will develop the designs for a future pilot plant.
Calix’s Co-Founder and Chief Scientist, Dr Mark Sceats, said:
“In ANICA, Calix will work with the partners to integrate its LEILAC technology for capturing process CO2, with the Darmstadt “looping” technology to capture combustion CO2. Looping uses lime as the CO2 sorbent, and the spent lime can be used in cement, so there is no waste. The combination of both can give zero emissions cement.”
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Calix’s recently completed BATMn reactor for advanced battery materials – Bacchus Marsh, VIC
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