American-Australian partnership to focus on graphite anode technology
Engineers AustraliaAustralian minerals and technology company Syrah Resources and American energy storage company Cadenza Innovation have announced an exclusive, long-term research and development agreement to fuel advancements in graphite anode technology for use in lithium-ion-based energy storage.
The Balama graphite project under construction in Mozambique. Image: Syrah
Australian minerals and technology company Syrah Resources and American energy storage company Cadenza Innovation have announced an exclusive, long-term research and development agreement to fuel advancements in graphite anode technology for use in lithium-ion-based energy storage.
Syrah is currently constructing the Balama graphite project in Mozambique, with construction nearing completion, and commissioning activities commenced. By 2020, Syrah is projected to be the world’s largest individual graphite producer with approximately 40% market share.
Cadenza was founded in 2012 to commercialise a super-cell battery architecture developed by Founder and CEO Dr Christina Lampe-Onnerud and Chief Technology Officer Dr. Per Onnerud. This architecture simplifies Li-ion battery design, improving its energy density and reducing production and manufacturing costs.
“With the enormous forecasted growth and increasing adoption of electric vehicles, and proliferation of grid storage applications, the lithium-ion battery market continues its strong growth trajectory,” said Syrah Chief Executive Officer Shaun Verner. “The potential to work with Cadenza Innovation to develop advanced Battery Anode Materials is the ideal step to help us capitalise on this tremendous business opportunity.”
Lampe-Onnerud said Syrah’s core business tenets aligned with Cadenza’s foundational design and development principles.“As developers – and champions – of safer, higher performing and more sustainable battery technology, we are thrilled to partner with a global leader in graphite,” she said.
“We look forward to a highly successful collaboration in which our team can once again advance the state-of-the-art in lithium-ion technology.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Syrah and Cadenza will develop and test advanced battery anode materials. Cadenza will establish an Office of the CTO to lead knowledge exchange and deep technical partner and customer engagement as well as support the processing plant Syrah is establishing in Louisiana. Syrah will also embed key personnel within Cadenza research, design and engineering team. Additionally, the combined team will develop Syrah’s carbon materials using a natural graphite base.