Energy Storage

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Silver - >>> Samsung has developed a silver-based solid-state battery technology, primarily for electric vehicles (EVs), that promises significant advancements over lithium-ion batteries. These batteries feature a silver-carbon (Ag-C) composite anode and a solid-state electrolyte, offering higher energy density, longer lifespan, faster charging, and enhanced safety. Specifically, Samsung's solid-state batteries are projected to achieve a 600-mile range on a single charge, a 20-year lifespan, and a 9-minute charging time for an 80% charge.

Key Features and Benefits:

Higher Energy Density:
The solid-state design allows for a much higher energy density (500 Wh/kg) compared to current lithium-ion batteries (around 270 Wh/kg), enabling longer driving ranges in a smaller and lighter package.

Extended Lifespan:
Samsung's solid-state batteries are designed to last for 20 years, significantly longer than the typical lifespan of lithium-ion batteries.

Faster Charging:
The solid electrolyte enables faster charging speeds, with Samsung claiming a 9-minute charge time for 80% capacity.

Enhanced Safety:
Solid-state batteries eliminate the flammable liquid electrolytes found in traditional batteries, increasing safety and thermal stability.

Potential Impact on Silver Market:
The use of silver in the anode, particularly in the Ag-C composite, could lead to increased demand for silver, potentially impacting the market.

Current Status and Future Outlook:
Samsung has established a pilot production line for solid-state batteries and is delivering prototype samples to automakers.
Initial production is targeted for "super premium" EVs, with broader adoption dependent on cost reductions and scaling of manufacturing.

Samsung aims to mass-produce these batteries by 2027.

Comparison with Lithium-ion Batteries:

Feature

Samsung Solid-State Battery
Typical Lithium-ion Battery

Energy Density
500 Wh/kg
~270 Wh/kg

Lifespan
20 years
8-15 years

Charging Time (80%)
9 minutes
25-30 minutes

Safety
Higher
Lower (flammable liquid electrolyte)

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>>> Finland warms up the world’s largest sand battery, and the economics look appealing


TechCrunch

by Tim De Chant

June 16, 2025


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/finland-warms-world-largest-sand-215429320.html


https://media.zenfs.com/en/techcrunch_finance_785/1de8de1a011bf029e06db69895d4fd6c">https://media.zenfs.com/en/techcrunch_finance_785/1de8de1a011bf029e06db69895d4fd6c" />


Two technicians walk by the Pornainen sand battery.

It doesn’t look like much, but Finland recently flipped the switch on the world’s largest sand-based battery.

Yes, sand.

A sand battery is a type of thermal energy storage system that uses sand or crushed rock to store heat. Electricity — typically from renewable sources — is used to heat the sand. That stored heat can later be used for various ends, including to warm buildings.

The economics are compelling, and it’s hard to get any cheaper than the crushed soapstone now housed inside an insulated silo in the small town of Pornainen. The soapstone was basically trash — discarded from a Finnish fireplace maker.

Though it might not be as visually impressive as a large lithium-ion battery pack, the 2,000 metric tons of pulverized rock inside the 49-foot-wide silo promises to slash Pornainen’s carbon emissions, helping the town eliminate costly oil that currently helps power the town’s district heating network.

Like many Scandinavian towns, Pornainen operates a central boiler that heats water for homes and buildings around town. Polar Night’s battery can store 1,000 megawatt-hours of heat for weeks at a time, enough for a week’s worth of heating in the chilly Finnish winter. From storage to recovery, only about 10% to 15% of the heat is lost, and the temperature at the outlet can be up to 400°C.

The town’s district heating system also relies on burning wood chips, and the sand battery will reduce that consumption by about 60%, according to Polar Night. Heat from the battery could also generate electricity, though the process would sacrifice some efficiency.

As renewables have gotten cheaper, interest in thermal batteries has grown. Beyond Polar Night, numerous startups are pursuing thermal batteries. Scotland-based Sunamp is building one that relies on the same material that gives salt-and-vinegar potato chips their flavor. Electrified Thermal Solutions, TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield 2023 runner-up, has created a type of brick that can produce heat approaching 2,000°C. And Fourth Power is making graphite blocks that store electricity as 2,400°C heat.

Pornainen’s battery is charged using electricity from the grid, and its massive storage capacity allows the operator to draw power when it’s cheapest. Finland’s grid is mostly renewables (43%) and nuclear (26%), meaning its electricity is pretty clean. It’s also the cheapest in Europe at just under €0.08 per kilowatt-hour — less than half the EU average.

Polar Night didn’t disclose the project’s cost, though the raw materials are cheap and the structure itself isn’t particularly complex. A much smaller prototype built a few years ago cost around $25 per kilowatt-hour of storage, the company estimated at the time. It’s likely the new version is cheaper. Lithium-ion batteries cost around $115 per kilowatt-hour.

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OXY - >>> This Warren Buffett Stock to Own Forever Is a Buy Today

Buffett expects to own some stocks indefinitely—and one of those stocks looks cheap today.


Morningstar

by Susan Dziubinski

May 13, 2025


https://www.morningstar.com/stocks/this-warren-buffett-stock-own-forever-is-buy-today-2


Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class A
(BRK.A)

Coca-Cola Co
(KO)

Occidental Petroleum Corp
(OXY)

Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B
(BRK.B)

American Express Co
(AXP)

Susan Dziubinski: Hi, I’m Susan Dziubinski with Morningstar. Warren Buffett surprised many earlier this month when he said he’d step down as CEO of the Berkshire Hathaway BRK.A BRK.B at the end of this year. Greg Abel will step into the CEO spot on Jan. 1, 2026, but Warren Buffett will retain his role as Berkshire Hathaway chairman.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest investors of all time, Buffett has had an uncanny ability to identify businesses that have clear competitive advantages and that are likely to be able to maintain those advantages over a very long time.

In fact, in a recent shareholder letter, Buffett identified a few stocks in Berkshire’s publicly traded portfolio that he expects Berkshire to hold indefinitely. What makes these stocks so special? Buffett says these companies make him comfortable because they are hugely successful in their base businesses. Plus, the products and services that these companies provide “travel,” meaning that they’ve become worldwide brands and essentials of the world we live in.

Buffett’s list of forever stocks includes longtime holdings like Coca-Cola KO, which has maintained a wide economic moat thanks to its sizable cost advantages and valuable intangible assets. American Express AXP also qualifies as a forever stock for Buffett. Amex’s closed-loop system benefits from high switching costs and the network effect, which fortify the company’s wide moat.

But neither Coke nor American Express look like buys today from Morningstar’s perspective. Both are fairly overvalued relative to our fair value estimates. Yet there is one Buffett forever stock that looks very undervalued to Morningstar today.

This Warren Buffett Stock to Own Forever Is a Buy Today

Occidental Petroleum OXY

What stock is that? It’s Occidental Petroleum OXY. Berkshire owns more than 28% of the company’s outstanding shares. Oxy is one of the world’s largest independent oil and gas producers. Buffett thinks the company’s leadership position in carbon capture initiatives could bear fruit, too. Morningstar doesn’t think Oxy has carved out an economic moat, due largely to the expensive acquisition of Anadarko Petroleum in 2019, which dented Oxy’s profitability. But management has been deleveraging the company’s balance sheet, and we think the books look better than they have in several years and that the company is on the cusp of consistently earning its cost of capital. The stock looks cheap today. We think Oxy’s stock is worth $59 per share.

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>>> Why are Chinese automakers like BYD launching fast-charging EV systems?


Reuters

March 18, 2025


https://www.yahoo.com/tech/explainer-why-chinese-automakers-byd-061838306.html


SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China's BYD has unveiled a megawatt charging system that it says can charge an EV as quickly as filling up a fuel tank, and said it will build a network across China, igniting a new super charging race.

Here are more details about the Chinese electric vehicle giant's new technology and why the fast-charging space is attracting interest:

WHY DOES FAST-CHARGING EV TECHNOLOGY MATTER?

Drivers sceptical of EVs have cited worries that their batteries could go flat during long-distance drives, prompting automakers to come up with fast-charging as well as battery-swapping technology as solutions.

Chinese automakers are increasing using such technologies as key selling points to attract buyers in a hyper competitive market and such technologies have been credited for contributing to the high adoption of EVs in China. Tesla also offers ultra-fast chargers.

HOW DOES BYD'S NEW SYSTEM COMPARE TO OTHERS?

BYD said its so-called "super e-platform" will be capable of peak charging of 1,000 kilowatts (kW), enabling cars that use it to travel 400 km (249 miles) on a 5-minute charge.

To achieve such performance, BYD said it had developed a package of technologies including batteries with a 10C charging multiplier, which means they can be charged at 10 times the battery's capacity per hour. Others include high-power motors, high-volt silicon carbide power chips and fast chargers that support 1,000 kW of power.

By comparison, Tesla mainly sticks with a 400-volt system that can charge at up to 250kW for its EVs. The exceptions for the U.S. automaker are its Cybertruck that runs on a 800-volt architecture with a maximum rate of 350kW, and Semi truck that has a 1,000-volt powertrain.

Zeekr, Geely's premium EV brand, launched last year an 800-volt platform that can charge 80% of a 75-kwh battery in its Zeekr 007 sedan from 10% in 10.5 minutes. Li Auto and Xpeng have similar technology that can achieve more than 400 km driving range on a 10-minute charge.

WHY DOES BYD NOW WANT TO BUILD A CHARGING NETWORK?

BYD accounts for more than a third of the EV sales in China but its owners have largely relied on other automakers' charging facilities or public charging poles run by third-party operators to date.

The company said the latest super e-platform required its own fast chargers and that it would build more than 4,000 such charging stations across China, without specifiying a time frame. Founder Wang Chuanfu, at the unveiling event on Monday,

also appealed to external investors, saying the company would welcome their help in building more.

BYD would, however, be playing catch up: Chinese automaker Nio has the most extensive charging network in China including nearly 2,700 fast charging stations.

Tesla had led with its efforts since 2014 in China and built more than 2,000 stations, or 11,500 Superchargers as of September.

Smaller players such as Li Auto, Xpeng and Zeekr have also been ramping up efforts to expand their fast-charging networks. Li Auto said last week that it had built 1,900 fast charging stations since April 2023.

Zeekr said last year that it aimed to build 100,000 ultra-fast charging poles, or 2,000 ultra-fast charging stations nationwide by 2026.

Huawei has also built liquid-cooled ultra-fast charging piles that supports a maximum charging power of 600kW and vehicles of up to 1,000-volt architecture. Its deployment of charging facilities including the ultra-fast chargers had exceeded 50,000 piles as of last year.

ARE THERE ANY CONCERNS?

Analysts, however, have warned that mass adoption of fast-charging technology will put extra pressure on power grid capacity, which would require additional efforts and investments to upgrade the infrastructure.

BYD said it would tackle the challenge by equipping an energy storage unit with each of its fast chargers, which analysts said would make such facilities more costly.

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>>> Battery firm abandons plan for a $2.6 billion plant in Georgia


AP

by JEFF AMY

February 7, 2025


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/battery-firm-abandons-plan-2-204124656.html


ATLANTA (AP) — A clean energy company is abandoning a plan to build a giant electric battery factory in Atlanta's suburbs after it shifted to buy a solar panel plant in Texas.

Freyr Battery told officials in Newnan on Thursday that it wouldn't build a $2.6 billion plant that was supposed to hire more than 700 people, after sending a Jan. 21 letter to the Coweta County Development Authority announcing its plans to end the project.

The factory would have built batteries to store electricity produced by renewable sources and release it later, company officials said. It would have been the second-largest battery factory worldwide when it was announced in 2023. But Freyr, a startup founded in 2018, never began construction on the 368-acre (149-hectare) site.

Freyr, which moved its corporate headquarters from Norway to Newnan in part to maximize its eligibility for the U.S. tax benefits of President Joe Biden's climate law, said it was shifting its focus to a newly opened solar panel factory that it bought last year for $340 million from top Chinese solar panel maker Trina Solar.

“We are so grateful for the support and partnership we found in Coweta County and throughout Georgia," Freyr spokesperson Amy Jaick wrote in a statement, "However, as noted in our December release, we are focusing at the moment on the solar module manufacturing facility in Texas.”

The Newnan Times-Herald first reported the story, saying Freyr senior vice president of business development Jason Peace met Thursday with local officials. Peace told Coweta County Development Authority board members that the decision was driven by rising interest rates, falling battery prices, a change in company leadership and a shift in its goals, authority President Sarah Jacobs wrote in an email Friday.

The Georgia Department of Economic Development said the state conveyed a $7 million grant to buy a site for Freyr in Newnan, about 35 miles (55 kilometers) southwest of Atlanta. Department spokesperson Jessica Atwell said the state and company are “working together” to ensure the money is “repaid expeditiously.” Freyr may also owe money to Coweta County.

“Georgia’s incentives process protects the Georgia taxpayer, and when a company’s plans change, that process ensures discretionary incentives are repaid," Atwell said in a statement.

Jacobs said planning for the project made Coweta County a stronger candidate for future projects.

The company had said it planned to build battery factories in Norway and Finland but said in November that it will try to sell its European business. The company also said it was terminating its license for technology to make batteries, paying $3 million to the company it was licensed from.

Tom Einar Jensen, then the company's CEO, told investors in August that it had grown difficult to raise money to make batteries because of a surplus of Chinese batteries being produced at lower costs. The company said it was switching its strategy into businesses that would allow it to raise cash, including solar panel manufacturing. The company saw its cash on hand fall from $253 million at the end of 2023 to $182 million on Sept. 30.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has targeted recruitment of the electric vehicle industry.

Korean firm SK Innovation built a $2.6 billion battery plant in Commerce, northeast of Atlanta and hired 3,000 workers, but later laid off or furloughed some workers.

Hyundai Motor Group has started production at a $7.6 billion electric vehicle and battery plant near Savannah, with plans to hire 8,500 workers. Electric truck maker Rivian revived its plans to build a plant east of Atlanta after a $6.6 billion loan from the Biden administration.

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Instead of CO2, we get deadly hydrogen fluoride gas -


>>> Smoke forces evacuation from world’s largest battery storage plant in California


MarketWatch

1-18-25


https://www.msn.com/en-us/public-safety-and-emergencies/health-and-safety-alerts/smoke-forces-evacuation-from-world-s-largest-battery-storage-plant-in-california/ar-AA1xqgAs?ocid=TobArticle





A fire at the world’s largest battery storage plant in Northern California smoldered Friday after sending plumes of toxic smoke into the atmosphere, leading to the evacuation of up to 1,500 people.

The fire at the Vistra Energy lithium battery plant in Moss Landing generated huge flames and significant amounts of smoke Thursday but had diminished significantly by Friday, Fire Chief Joel Mendoza of the North County Fire Protection District of Monterey County said. Vistra is based in Texas.

“There’s very little, if any, of a plume emitting from that building,” Mendoza said. Crews are not engaging with the fire and are waiting for it to burn out, he said. Letting lithium-ion battery fires burn out is not unusual because they burn very hot and are hard to put out.

No injuries have been reported but residents raised concerns about hazardous gases being released into the air.

The fallout from the fire at the battery storage facility about 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of San Francisco was just beginning.

“This is more than a fire, this a wake-up call for the industry. If we’re going to be moving ahead with sustainable energy, we need to have a safe battery system in place,” Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church said at a Friday morning briefing.

Battery storage is considered crucial for feeding clean electricity onto the grid when the sun is not shining or the wind is not blowing, and it has been used in significant amounts only in the last couple of years. But the batteries are nearly all lithium, which has a tendency toward “thermal runaway,” meaning it can catch fire and burn very hot, releasing toxic gases.

Vistra sells energy to Pacific Gas & Electric one of the nation’s largest utilities.

The blaze did not spread beyond the facility, according to Monterey County spokesperson Nicholas Pasculli. Evacuation orders for from 1,200 to 1,500 people were lifted Friday evening after officials confirmed there was “no threat to human health,” (??) the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. But residents were advised to close their windows and turn off their air conditioning.

“There’s no way to sugar coat it. This is a disaster,” Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church told KSBW-TV.

Brad Watson, Vistra’s senior director of community affairs, said the Environmental Protection Agency is testing air quality at the facility and that the company has hired an air consultant to check for pollution in nearby communities. Vistra will share the results when they are available, Watson said.

Kelsey Scanlon, director of Monterey County’s Department of Emergency Management, told reporters that the release of hydrogen fluoride into the atmosphere from the blaze is a cause for concern.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says hydrogen fluoride gas can irritate the eyes, mouth, throat, lungs and nose, and that too much exposure to the gas can be deadly.

Residents expressed concerns about air quality during an emergency meeting of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors earlier Friday.

“It doesn’t appear that the fire department had the appropriate fire retardants to minimize this fire and have to resort to actually letting it burn, exposing all of the residents, including Watsonville in Santa Cruz County, and this is extremely disturbing,” resident Silvia Morales said.

Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto said air quality monitoring systems had not detected any hazardous gases in the air. (??)

Watson said two “overheating events” happened at the battery plant in 2021 and 2022 because the batteries got wet. A third incident happened in 2022 in the neighboring Elkhorn battery plant that is owned by PG&E, he said.

Lithium batteries make the power grid more stable and reduce the need for energy to be generated from fossil fuels, which release planet-warming gases. California was an early adopter of battery storage and leads the nation with more than 11 gigawatts of utility-scale storage online, which can meet nearly half of the demand on the state’s main grid for four hours per day.

Experts say lithium batteries are a safe technology that are essential for lowering carbon emissions and making grids more reliable. But they are a significant fire risk if they are damaged or overheat.

“We are not convinced that this incident could materially shift the national trend of growing grid scale battery deployment,” said Timothy Fox, managing director of ClearView Energy Partners, a non-partisan energy research firm.

It was unclear what caused this latest fire. Vistra said in a statement that after it was detected, everyone at the site was evacuated safely. After the fire is out, an investigation will begin.

“Our top priority is the safety of the community and our personnel, and Vistra deeply appreciates the continued assistance of our local emergency responders,” Jenny Lyon, a spokesperson for Vistra, said in a statement.

Jodie Lutkenhaus, professor of chemical engineering at Texas A&M University, said safer batteries must be found that can be used on the grid.

Some improvements, such as more fire prevention measures, can be made to reduce fire risks with lithium batteries, Lutkenhaus said, “but the only way to really address the problem is to use a safer technology.” Water-based and redox flow batteries are being developed by scientists but have not yet scaled commercially.

Lithium iron phosphate batteries are a possible alternative because they are highly stable, but they still carry some fire risk.

No matter what kind of lithium battery you use, “when you reach a certain size, it is inherently very dangerous and easy to catch fire,” said Yiguang Ju, engineering professor at Princeton University.

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>>> Solid-State EV Batteries Could Drive Silver Demand: How to Invest


August 30, 2024

Written by Ebube Jones for Barchart


https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/solid-state-ev-batteries-could-drive-silver-demand-how-invest


The electric vehicle (EV) revolution is charging ahead, and a critical new player might soon steal the spotlight: solid-state batteries. Samsung's recent breakthrough in silver-based solid-state battery technology could not only transform the EV landscape, but also send shockwaves through the silver market These batteries promise a 600-mile range on a single charge, a 20-year lifespan, and a mere 9-minute charging time. With an energy density of 500 Wh/kg, nearly double that of current mainstream EV batteries, this technology could revolutionize the industry.

The potential impact on demand for silver is substantial. Estimates suggest that each solid-state battery cell could require approximately 5 grams of silver, with a typical 100 kWh battery pack potentially using up to 1 kg of silver. If 20% of global car production adopts this technology, it could translate to an annual silver demand of 16,000 metric tons.

For investors looking to capitalize on yet another expected source of rising silver demand, two silver exchange-traded funds (ETFs) stand out: the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) and the abrdn Physical Silver Shares ETF (SIVR). These ETFs closely track the price of silver, and provide a convenient way to gain exposure to the precious metal without the hassle of storing and insuring physical bullion.

Let's examine these ETFs more closely and explore how they could help you ride the wave of the silver surge.

iShares Silver Trust (SLV)

The iShares Silver Trust (SLV) is a prominent exchange-traded fund (ETF) designed to provide investors with a cost-effective way to gain exposure to the price of silver. Managed by BlackRock (BLK) Financial Management, SLV was launched on April 21, 2006, and is structured as a grantor trust. This structure means that each share of the ETF represents a fractional undivided beneficial interest in the net assets of the trust, which primarily consists of physical silver bullion held in a vault by JPMorgan Chase (JPM), the custodian institution.

SLV tracks the price of silver as determined by the London Bullion Market Association's (LBMA) Silver Price, offering investors a direct play on thesilver marketwithout the complexities of futures contracts. This physically backed methodology eliminates issues such as contango and backwardation, which can affect ETFs that derive their value from futures contracts. SLV has total assets under management (AUM) of approximately $13.57 billion, with a relatively low annual expense ratio of 0.50%.

Over the past year, SLV has returned 17.9%, and is up 23% on a YTD basis. With the shares down 9% from May highs, now could be an appealing entry point for the next leg higher.

With average volume of 16 million shares and an active options market, SLV offers plenty of liquidity for both short-term speculators and long-term investors.

As silver demand looks set to rise, thanks in part to tech innovations like Samsung's solid-state EV batteries, SLV could be a savvy pick for investors looking to capitalize on higher prices for the industrial metal. Given its straightforward structure and robust volume, SLV stands out as a compelling option for those eager to capitalize on these exciting trends.

abrdn Physical Silver Shares ETF (SIVR)

The abrdn Physical Silver Shares ETF (SIVR) is another great choice for investors who want to get in on the silver action. Just like SLV, SIVR offers a simple and affordable way to invest in silver without the fuss of handling the physical metal or diving into the futures market. This ETF is backed by real silver bullion that's kept safe and sound in vaults.

In terms of performance, SIVR has gained 22.8% YTD, and 17.8% over the past year, highlighting its potential as a hedge against inflation and market volatility. However, like many commodity-based investments, SIVR's performance can be volatile, and its one-year return contrasts with a longer-term annualized return of 3.2% over the past decade.

SIVR is designed to closely follow the spot price of silver, minus the trust's expenses, which are pretty low at just 0.30%. This makes it a great pick for investors who want to keep costs down. The fund has been around since 2009 and is managed by abrdn PLC, with a hefty $1.37 billion in assets under management. This impressive AUM shows just how much investors are digging silver these days, both as a precious metal and an industrial powerhouse.

That said, with SIVR's daily volume around 765,000 shares and a somewhat thinly traded options market, speculators in search of a more active trade may prefer the higher-volume SLV.

For those looking to add some diversity to their portfolios with a focus on silver, SIVR provides a straightforward and efficient way to get in on the action.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the rise of silver solid-state batteries in the EV industry could be a game-changer for silver demand, and a compelling opportunity for investors. With ETFs like SLV and SIVR offering convenient and cost-effective exposure to the silver market now might be the perfect time to consider adding some silver to your portfolio. Whether you're in search of a currency hedge, or simply betting on rising industrial demand for the precious metal, these ETFs provide a straightforward way to potentially profit from silver's promising trajectory.

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>>> New Samsung EV battery technology has captivated silver bulls. Here’s the argument.


MarketWatch

by Jamie Chisholm

Aug. 23, 2024


https://www.marketwatch.com/story/new-samsung-ev-battery-technology-has-captivated-silver-bulls-heres-the-argument-a7db1a66


Amid all the volatility of recent weeks one market has proved relatively serene: gold has trundled higher to fresh records, popping above $2,500 an ounce for the first time.

Silver tends to act like a pilot fish, tracking the bigger bullion, but the grey metal has notably failed to follow gold’s record-setting, trading currently around $29.40 an ounce.

The world of precious metals does attract its share of evangelists and hype. But one assessment seems to be making the rounds, and over the last five sessions, silver has outperformed gold.

The analysis comes from retired investment professional Kevin Bambrough, the former president of Canadian asset manager Sprott who tweets and publishes YouTube commentary on precious metals.

In a recent posting on X, Bambrough argued that Samsung’s new solid-state battery technology, which incorporates a silver-carbon (AG-C) composite layer, should deliver a big boost in demand for silver.

The key drivers that will ramp up demand for EVs are range, charge time, battery life and safety, says Bambrough, and he forecasts that the Samsung technology will deliver a battery with a 600-mile range, a 20-year lifespan and a nine-minute charge.

A very, very big caveat: official numbers are unavailable. Bambrough estimates that as much as five grams of silver may be used per cell in Samsung’s new batteries.

“A typical EV battery pack containing around 200 cells for a 100 kWh capacity could require about 1 kg of silver per vehicle,” he says.

Global car production is about 80 million vehicles a year, according to Bambrough, so if say 20% of these were EVs and were to adopt the Samsung solid-state battery the annual demand for silver would be around 16,000 metric tons.

“This would represent a significant portion of the current global silver production, which is approximately 25,000 metric tons annually, highlighting the substantial impact on the silver market,” says Bambrough.

By some estimates, demand from the solar industry already has helped push the silver market into deficit as consumption, which also includes jewelry and investment, outstrips supply.

Bambrough is prepared to accept that his figures are mere projections. “Perhaps 5 grams might be high. Perhaps 20% will prove low for solid state battery penetration into the auto industry. It could be as much as 50% or greater looking 10-15 years out,” he says.

And in a later post Bambrough reiterated that his amount of silver-per-battery cell was guesswork, and that it could be as low as a half gram per cell.

Still, what the Samsung technology does suggest is that the silver market will get still tighter, allowing, he says, “the price of silver to take a run at its all time inflation adjusted high [of] $200/oz,” which would likely be seen in the coming 10-15 years.

“All one needs to do is look back at the silver chart of the 1970’s to see how explosive the precious metal can move skyward when a true shortage develops and speculators decide to hoard,” he says.

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>>> India, US sign pact to cooperate on critical battery mineral supply chains


Reuters

by David Lawder


https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/india-us-sign-pact-to-cooperate-on-critical-battery-mineral-supply-chains/ar-AA1rFjTP?ocid=BingNewsSerp


WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Indian Trade Minister Piyush Goyal and U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo signed an agreement on Thursday to cooperate on strengthening supply chains in the two countries for lithium, cobalt and other critical minerals used in electric vehicles and clean energy applications.

The Commerce Department said in a statement that the memorandum of understanding (MOU), signed during Goyal's visit to Washington, was aimed at building resilience in the sector for each country.

"Priority areas of focus include identifying equipment, services, policies and best practices to facilitate the mutually beneficial commercial development of U.S. and Indian critical minerals exploration, extraction, processing and refining, recycling and recovery," Commerce said.

Goyal, speaking at a Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington after the signing, described the MOU as a multi-dimensional partnership that would include open supply chains for materials, technology development and investment flows to promote green energy.

He said the U.S. and India would also need to include third countries in their engagement, including mineral-rich countries in Africa and South America.

The MOU, which Reuters first reported was in the works on Monday, falls far short of a full critical minerals trade deal that would allow India to benefit from the $7,500 U.S. electric vehicle tax credit.

Japan last year signed a deal with the U.S. Trade Representative's office that allows Japanese automakers to more fully participate in the credit, aiming to reduce U.S.-Japanese mineral dependence on China and prohibiting bilateral export controls on lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, manganese and other minerals.

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>>> US to award $3B to 25 projects for battery manufacturing sector


Reuters

by David Shepardson

September 20, 2024


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-award-3-billion-25-090344990.html


The US Energy Department said Friday it plans to award $3 billion to 25 battery manufacturing sector projects in 14 states as the Biden administration works to shift the supply chain away from China.

The projects will increase domestic production of advanced batteries and battery materials and follows the adoption of US EV tax credit rules to shift battery production and critical minerals away from China.

The awards fund battery-grade processed critical minerals, components, battery manufacturing, and recycling, and will generate $16 billion in total investment for the projects and support 12,000 production and construction jobs, the department said.

"Mineral security is essential for climate security," said White House climate adviser Ali Zaidi. "This sets us up to lead on the next generation of battery technologies - from solid state to other new chemistries."

Albemarle is set to receive $67 million for a project in North Carolina to produce commercial quantities of anode material for next-generation lithium-ion batteries, while Honeywell is set to receive $126.6 million to build a commercial-scale facility in Louisiana to produce a key electrolyte salt needed for lithium batteries.

DOE plans to award Dow $100 million to produce battery-grade carbonate solvents for lithium-ion battery electrolytes, while Clarios Circular Solutions, which is partnering with SK ON and Cosmo Chemical, is set to receive $150 million for a project in South Carolina to recycle lithium-ion battery production scrap materials from SK ON, the battery unit of SK Innovation.

Currently most US production scrap is exported by material traders to be processed, mostly in China, DOE said.

DOE plans a $225 million award for production of lithium carbonate by SWA Lithium, jointly owned by Standard Lithium and Equinor, using Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology. DOE also plans to award $225 million to TerraVolta Resources to produce lithium from brine using DLE.

Revex Technologies, a partnership co-founded by Lundin Mining, is set to receive $145 million for three Michigan facilities to turn waste from the only operating US primary nickel mine to yield domestic nickel production for at least 462,000 EV batteries yearly.

DOE plans to award $166 million to South32 Hermosa in Patagonia, Arizona for the mining of high purity manganese sulfate monohydrate (HPMSM) for electric vehicle battery chemistries. Currently over 96% of HPMSM is made in China.

DOE also plans to award $166.1 million for another HPMSM project in Louisiana for Element 25 from manganese ore sourced from an Element 25 mine in Western Australia.

Group14 Technologies is to receive $200 million to develop a US-based silane manufacturing plant in Moses Lake, Washington. The largest source of silane today is China, a material needed for silicon batteries.

Birla Carbon is set to receive $150 million for next-generation synthetic graphite that will not use material from China.

DOE previously awarded $1.82 billion to 14 projects. DOE said the projects selected must complete negotiations and an environmental review before they are awarde

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>>> US announces $3 billion in funding for new battery projects


The Verge

by Justine Calma

9-20-24


The US Department of Energy announced today plans to dole out more than $3 billion to over two dozen battery projects across 14 states. The money will go toward processing critical minerals, building batteries and their components, and recycling batteries. It’s part of the Biden administration’s push for more domestic manufacturing to support its climate goals.

Batteries are an increasingly hot commodity needed for electric vehicles and to store renewable energy from solar and wind projects. New battery facilities are cropping up all over the US thanks in part to federal support in the form of grants, loans, and tax incentives.

New battery facilities are cropping up all over the US

The funding comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in 2021. The 25 projects announced today have been selected for awards, but will still need to go through a negotiation process with the Department of Energy (DOE) and complete an environmental review to receive any money. The DOE predicts the funding will create 12,000 jobs, 8,000 of which would be in construction.
Two projects chosen to potentially receive the largest sums of money are meant to produce lithium from brine, each tentatively earmarked to receive up to $225 million in funding. A joint project between Standard Lithium and Equinor in Lewisville, Arkansas is expected to produce up to 45,000 metric tons per annum of battery-quality lithium carbonate over two decades.

The second project, led by TerraVolta Resources in the Texarkana region, is estimated to have the capacity to produce 25,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent each year once it’s operating. That’s enough lithium for some 500,000 EVs, according to the DOE project description.

This is the second round of funding in a program led by the DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC). The first round of funding, announced in 2022, funneled $1.82 billion into 14 battery material and manufacturing projects.

China still leads global battery production with nearly 85 percent of the world’s capacity to produce battery cells. It also processes more of the critical minerals used in batteries than any other country. The Biden administration recently announced higher tariffs on batteries and battery parts from China, raising tariffs rates from 7.5 to 25 percent. And the administration structured the EV tax credit so that it only applies to vehicles with batteries manufactured in the US.

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Still more Lithium batteries ablaze - >>> Truck carrying batteries catches fire, causing daylong closure on SB County freeway


FOX 11 Digital Team

July 27, 2024


https://www.yahoo.com/news/truck-carrying-batteries-catches-fire-214219072.html


SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, Calif. - A major highway connecting Los Angeles and Las Vegas has been closed for more than a day, after a truck carrying lithium batteries caught on fire. Now, crews are dealing with a hazmat situation in triple-digit temperatures.

It happened around 10 a.m. Friday, in the northbound lanes of Interstate 15 near Baker, the San Bernardino County Fire Department reported. The truck overturned around mile marker 113, leaking fuel, which then caught fire. Adding to the difficulty, the truck was carrying lithium-ion batteries, which also started to burn.

That's a problem, the SBCFD says, because when lithium-ion batteries catch fire, it "can escalate to thermal runaway, needing massive amounts of water to extinguish."

Both sides of the 15 Freeway were closed near Baker for most of Friday, with the southbound lanes reopening around 3 p.m. As of Saturday afternoon, the northbound lanes remain closed.

Crews working on the scene Saturday have three big challenges: the traffic, the heat, and the container.

Temperatures near Baker Friday reached 110 degrees Friday, and 111 Saturday afternoon. The county fire department said that dispatch has received numerous calls since the closure for people suffering heat-related emergencies, including many people who were trapped on the roads in the heat without water.

To help with that, the SBCFD brought supplies to the Clyde V Kane Rest Stop off of the northbound lanes of the 15, south of Afton Canyon Road.

For the traffic, the California Highway Patrol has been alternating traffic using just the southbound lanes. But officials ask anyone planning to travel in the area to use Interstate 40 instead.

As of Saturday afternoon, crews are still working to move the container from the side of the road, but it weighs more than 75,000 pounds, officials said, which "has made these efforts unsuccessful so far."

The fire has also raised air quality concerns in the area, because of the hazardous chemicals that have burned. Crews are monitoring the air for chemicals like hydrogen cyanide and chlorine, which fire officials say are "particularly dangerous even at low concentrations."

It's not yet clear when the northbound lanes of the 15 Freeway will reopen, but crews are urging the public to avoid the area.

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More lithium battery fires - >>> A father whose home was destroyed in a fire started by a charging e-bike battery has said he has lost “every memory he ever had”.


by Naj Modak

BBC News

7-29-24


https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/family-torn-apart-after-battery-fire-destroys-home/ar-BB1qOgbX?cvid=cabd17fe3ab14ebdc9d26ba87cedda68&ei=142


Simon Blanshard’s home in Doncaster was gutted when fire ripped through the property causing extensive damage on 9 July.

The family have since been given notice by their landlord due to the extensive damage.

Mr Blanshard said his partner and five children have been living apart since the blaze and said all they wanted was to be reunited in a new home.

Mr Blanshard’s stepson Cameron was in the house at the time of the blaze and alerted neighbours to the situation.

“I had a phone call from a neighbour that the house was on fire," Mr Blanshard said.

“When I saw it I just broke down, there is nothing else I could do, it had already gone.”
He added that he did not let his partner Laura Natale and the rest of children see the devastation because it would “destroy them”.

His daughter Katelyn, 16, who was staying with her mum, said she ran to the property in Bentley when she heard about the fire.

“I just wanted my cat, I was going to go in and try and find my cat," she said.

Though the family's pets were rescued from the fire one of the cats died from smoke inhalation.

Miss Blanchard said since the fire the family had received a lot of support from neighbours and friends.

"It’s just mind blowing, I get goose bumps thinking about it," she added.

The family said they had been receiving support from friends and family

Mr Blanshard said the family have received an eviction notice from their landlord giving them two months to leave the property.

The landlord said he had no choice because of the amount of work needed to restore the property and confirmed he had given the family money towards their future.

"The one thing we are in need of right now is somewhere to live," Mr Blanshard said.

"The kindness of everyone around us has helped us get everything we need for when we find a home.”

The family's landlord has given them notice but has also offered financial help

A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said: “A fire investigation determined that the fire was caused by lithium-ion batteries, which had become overcharged.”

They added: “Our advice with lithium-ion batteries is to always the follow the manufacturer’s instructions when charging and only charge batteries whilst you are awake and in the house.”

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Rockwell Automation (ROK) - >>> Hydrogen becomes a battery


Control Global

July 16, 2024

Avid Solutions system integrates the largest proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer facility in the U.S.

by Jim Montague


https://www.controlglobal.com/manage/sustainability/article/55126268/hydrogen-becomes-a-battery


One of the hottest topics in sustainability today is using hydrogen to store power. However, what makes it even more attractive to net-zero supporters is using the excess capacity of renewable energy sources like solar and wind to electrolyze water into green hydrogen, which can be consumed, emissions-free at a later time.

“We focus on sustainability and particularly decarbonization. A major strategy of decarbonization is using green hydrogen to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Because green hydrogen uses renewable energy like solar and wind, and has the potential to decarbonize many industries, it’s been a focus of ours for some time,” says Justin Ryan, director of technology and energy transition at Avid Solutions Inc., a system integrator and certified member of the Control System Integrators Association. “Green hydrogen can be used when alternative energy sources aren’t feasible, when electrification and batteries aren’t viable, or where carbon-intensive hydrogen is used in manufacturing.”

Ryan reports that Avid was the system integrator for the largest proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer facility in the U.S., which started production in January 2024. The Plug plant is located in Woodbine, Ga., and produces up to 15-tons per day of liquid hydrogen. Plug produces hydrogen that’s used by its fleet of fuel cells or sold to customers.

“Fuel cells require hydrogen to produce power. As a result, Plug has been steadily acquiring companies and technologies to produce green hydrogen themselves. Leveraging their PEM electrolyzer technology, Plug built its first industrial-scale production facility. Its electrolyzer and overall, balance-of-plant (BOP) controls were designed and deployed by Avid. These controls were based on Rockwell Automation’s PlantPAx process automation system. This includes the controls of all BOP applications, including pure water for electrolysis, plant air, cooling systems, purge gas, power distribution and rectifier integration, and storage and shipping terminals. In addition to the BOP controls, we integrated unit controls for the main process consisting of electrolysis, gas drying, pure-gas filtering and liquification,” explains Ryan. “For example, liquefaction uses a cryogenic process to compress and cool hydrogen for storage and shipment at -423 °F based on Chart Industries technology. All of these assets were designed to be integrated and work together.”

The facility also has FM-listed, fire-and-gas system (FGS) protection and a safety instrumented systems (SIS) provided by Avid. These act as independent layers of protection. The FGS was designed with detector placement based on a provided gas dispersion analysis. The provided detectors monitor for leaks, flame and gas concentration above a safe, lower explosive limit (LEL).

Liquid, green hydrogen from the Woodbine plant is shipped via cryogenic storage trucks to clients with large warehouses, such as Amazon, Wal-Mart and Home Depot, which use it in their hydrogen-powered forklifts. These retailers can refill a forklift with hydrogen in about 5 minutes, compared to needing 15 hours to recharge a battery-powered forklift. “The U.S. Dept. of Energy (DoE) estimates that demand for hydrogen in the U.S. will reach 10 million metric tons per year (MMT/yr) by 2030 and 50 MMT/yr by 2050,” says Ryan. “To achieve this goal, tax breaks are available for switching to renewable energy sources or using them in infrastructure projects. To demonstrate some of this capability, Caterpillar and Microsoft use hydrogen fuel cells for data center backup power as a replacement for a fossil-fuel solution.”

Match know-how with application

To accelerate decarbonization projects and technologies, Ryan recommends partnering with a trusted partner, who is focused and experienced in green hydrogen production. “We gained a ton of experience in green hydrogen production in the past few years. Working with our client and technology partners, there was a lot to learn from integrating these systems at this scale.” explains Ryan. “We developed fit-for-purpose applications with the company’s electrolyzer OEM group to help build its first green hydrogen plant with standardized repeatable solutions.”

Over the past 35-years, Avid specialized in pharmaceutical, chemical, nuclear, and oil and gas projects. Ryan explains that undertaking green-hydrogen projects meant adding more staff with the right experience to meet demand. “There’s simply not a lot of engineers with green-hydrogen experience,” adds Ryan. “This is why we had to investigate and learn more about hydrogen gas processing. From material-of-construction choices to instrument selection to operating philosophy, there any many nuances to consider.

“In addition to process operations and control knowledge gains, it’s critical for project developers to work with good partners, EPCs and technology providers to properly plan and scope projects. Avid works closely with partners like Endress+Hauser, SMA, ABB, Rockwell, S&B Engineering and aeSolutions to bring valuable experience to the table. Beyond having good partners, it’s also essential to study and participate in hydrogen-related organizations, such as the NFPA 2’s prescriptive standard for hydrogen and the Compressed Gas Association’s H5 requirements.”

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>>> Stellantis tells owners of over 24,000 hybrid minivans to park outdoors due to battery fire risk


AP

7-18


https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/stellantis-tells-owners-of-over-24-000-hybrid-minivans-to-park-outdoors-due-to-battery-fire-risk/ar-BB1qeC9N?cvid=8ef0a411f663480e9bc4044294c43675&ei=101


AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) — Stellantis is telling the owners of more than 24,000 plug-in hybrid minivans to park them outdoors away from buildings, and to stop charging them due to the possibility of battery fires. (!!)

The company said Thursday that it's recalling certain 2017 through 2021 Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrids, mainly in North America. Some are being recalled for a second time. All can still be driven.

Stellantis, maker of Jeep, Chrysler, Ram and other vehicle brands, said its investigation is ongoing but the company has linked the problem to a rare abnormality in individual battery cells. The risk of fires is reduced when the battery is depleted. (LOL)

A company review of warranty data discovered seven fires within the group of vans being recalled. All happened when the vehicles were turned off, and some occurred during charging, Stellantis said. Four customers reported symptoms of smoke inhalation.

Engineers are still testing the remedy, which involves a software update designed to detect the battery abnormality. If a problem is found, dealers will replace the high-voltage battery at no cost to owners.

Owners will be notified by mail when to take their minivans in for service. After July 24, they can go to recalls.mopar.com or checktoprotect.org and key in their vehicle identification numbers to see if their vans are part of the recall. Later models have an improved manufacturing process and are not being recalled, the company said.

The recall comes six months after U.S. safety regulators began investigating a 2022 recall of nearly 17,000 of the vans. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in documents that it would review the effectiveness of the recall and try to understand the cause of the battery fires.

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Sand batteries -

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>>> Phillips 66 Announces Major Milestone in Production of Renewable Diesel


Business Wire

Apr 1, 2024


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/phillips-66-announces-major-milestone-203900162.html


HOUSTON, April 01, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX) today announced a major milestone in its conversion of the San Francisco refinery into the Rodeo Renewable Energy Complex, expanding commercial scale production of renewable diesel.

The Rodeo Renewed project has progressed, with the facility now processing only renewable feedstocks and producing approximately 30,000 barrels per day of renewable diesel. The Rodeo Renewable Energy Complex is on track to increase production rates to more than 800 million gallons per year (50,000 BPD) of renewable fuels by the end of the second quarter, positioning Phillips 66 as a leader in renewable fuels.

"We are proud to announce this significant achievement at our Rodeo facility," said Rich Harbison, Phillips 66 executive vice president of Refining. "The project advances Phillips 66’s long-held strategy to expand our renewable fuels production, lower our carbon footprint, and provide reliable, affordable energy while creating long-term value for our shareholders."

Harbison added, "We’ve had strong execution to-date and are fully focused on finalizing the project in the second quarter."

The Rodeo Renewed project design also provides the capability of producing renewable jet, a key component of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), expected to start production in the second quarter of 2024.

Phillips 66 made a final investment decision to move forward with the Rodeo Renewed project in 2022, transforming the San Francisco refinery into one of the world’s largest renewable fuels facilities. As a world-class supplier of renewable fuels, the converted facility leverages a premium geographic location, unique processing infrastructure and flexible logistics to significantly reduce lifecycle carbon emissions.

About Phillips 66

Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX) is a leading diversified and integrated downstream energy provider that manufactures, transports and markets products that drive the global economy. The company’s portfolio includes Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties businesses. Headquartered in Houston, Phillips 66 has employees around the globe who are committed to safely and reliably providing energy and improving lives while pursuing a lower-carbon future.

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>>> The Tesla Megapack is a large-scale rechargeable lithium-ion battery stationary energy storage product, intended for use at battery storage power stations, manufactured by Tesla Energy, the energy subsidiary of Tesla, Inc.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Megapack


Launched in 2019, a Megapack can store up to 3.9 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity. Each Megapack is a container of similar size to an intermodal container. They are designed to be deployed by electric utilities. The energy stored can be used as required, for example during periods of peak electricity demand or when grid power is disrupted.

Tesla Energy also offers the Powerwall, a smaller energy storage device intended for home use.

History

Tesla Gigafactory 1

Tesla Giga Nevada, where the Megapack was designed and is manufactured, along with Lathrop

On April 30, 2015, Tesla announced that it would sell standalone battery storage products to consumers and utilities.[1] Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated that the company's battery storage products could be used to improve the reliability of intermittent renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind.[1]

Prior to the Megapack launch, Tesla used its 200 kilowatt-hour (kWh) Powerpack energy storage product to meet the needs of utilities with large-scale storage requirements. During 2015 and 2016, Tesla deployed a combined 300 MWh of Powerwall and Powerpack technology, including an 80 MWh deployment of Powerpacks at the Mira Loma substation in Southern California.[2] In 2017, Tesla used Powerpacks to deploy 129 MWh of battery storage at the Hornsdale Power Reserve in South Australia,[3] the biggest deployment of lithium-ion grid battery storage in the world at the time.[4]

Design work, at Giga Nevada, began on the Megapack project at least as early as the first half of 2018.[5]

In July 2019, Megapack launched.[6] It was described by Tesla as a utility-scale energy storage product, suitable for power stations and utilities.[6] Tesla claimed that Megapacks would be compatible with Tesla power station monitoring and energy control software, Powerhub and Autobidder.[6] The company stated that Megapack was designed to meet the needs of large-scale battery storage projects, as with the Hornsdale Power Reserve.[6]

Tesla acquired a former JC Penney's distribution center in Lathrop, California, in 2021 and converted it into a battery plant called Megafactory,[7] with a target capacity of 40 GWh/year when finished.[8] Next-generation Megapacks use prismatic lithium iron phosphate cells,[9] for example in the 585 MWh Kapolei, Hawaii facility.[10]

Tesla’s record energy deployment was achieved in Q1 2023, adding 3.9 GWh in a single quarter, a 360% year-over-year increase.[11][needs update]

In 2023, Tesla announced a new “Megafactory” in Shanghai to manufacture Megapacks, with the goal of producing about 10,000 packs per year.[12]

Specifications

Model Unit Cost Capacity Power Round Trip Efficiency Dimensions (W x H x D)[13] Weight[13]

Megapack $1.24M 2.6 MWh[14] 1 MW[15] 23.52 ft × 8.27 ft × 5.44 ft
(7.168 m × 2.522 m × 1.659 m) 56,000 lb
(25,400 kg)

Megapack 2 $1.47M 3.854 MWh 1.927 MW 92.0% 23.79 ft × 8.22 ft × 5.37 ft
(7.25 m × 2.506 m × 1.637 m) 67,200 lb
(30,500 kg)

Megapack 2 XL $1.39M 3.916 MWh 979 kW 93.7% 28.87 ft × 9.14 ft × 5.41 ft
(8.8 m × 2.785 m × 1.65 m) 84,000 lb
(38,100 kg)

Megapacks are assembled at the Tesla Megafactory in Lathrop, California.

Terms

Each Megapack comes with a 15-year "no defect" and "energy retention" warranty.[15] A 10 or 20 year "performance guarantee" is available for an additional cost.[15] Once a Megapack has reached the end of its useful life, Tesla says they can be returned for recycling.[16]

Megapacks are pre-assembled, including "battery modules, bi-directional inverters, a thermal management system, an AC main breaker and controls."[17]

Tesla requires customers to purchase a maintenance service agreement. Each Megapack receives a minor annual service, and a major service every ten years. The annual maintenance includes inspections and cleaning. The ten-year maintenance includes activities such as replacing the pump and fan for the thermal management system and refilling the coolant fluid.[18] Maintenance is expected to take about an hour per Megapack.[16]

Design

The Megapack thermal management system is located at the top of each unit.[16] It uses coolant fluid, made of an equal-parts mixture of ethylene glycol and water, to keep the battery at operating temperature.[16]

Each Megapack weighs approximately 51,000 pounds (23,000 kg) and the enclosure is built to a similar size as an intermodal container and includes twistlock fittings to allow automated handling.

Applications

Tesla Megapack site with solar canopies[19] 3D sketch
Grid batteries are used for ancillary services such as control of frequency and phase, black start, operating reserve etc.

Peak power

Megapacks are designed for large-scale energy storage. Megapacks are used by utilities to replace peaker power plants,[20] which generate energy during periods of peak demand. Megapacks store grid energy rather than generating it from fuel.[21]

Powerpacks continue to be used by utilities to meet smaller-scale grid energy storage requirements. For example, a 25 MW / 52 MWh deployment of Powerpacks is in use at the Lake Bonney Wind Farm in South Australia.[22]

Time shifting

Energy storage has become a requirement to help convert intermittent energy sources such as wind and solar into firm power.[23]

Other energy storage solutions, such as pumped hydroelectric storage, dominate the time-shift market. As of 2019, pumped hydroelectric storage accounted for 96% of global energy storage capacity.[24] Pumped hydroelectric storage systems have lower efficiency, but longer lifetimes than battery storage.[24]

Megapack can be deployed more quickly than other storage technologies.[25]

Supercharger stations

3D sketch of Tesla Supercharger station with solar canopies and 8 Megapack set for close to 32 MWh

Megapacks have been installed at Tesla Supercharger stations that also have solar canopies to help power the Megapacks.[26] Megapacks can smooth out electric demand on the local power grid and use the stored Megapacks electricity during peak demand so there aren't excessive surcharges on electricity to charge the electric vehicles.[27]

Deployments

Completed

In November 2019, Tesla used a Megapack to power a mobile recharging station for Tesla electric vehicles in California.[28] The mobile Supercharger was reported to deliver 125 kW, and was transported on a flat trailer attached to a truck between deployment locations.[28]

In December 2019, Tesla delivered a 1.25 MW/2.5 MWh Megapack to the Millidgeville Substation in Saint John, Canada for peak shaving.[29][30] The battery is estimated to save owner Saint John Energy CA$200,000 per year.[31] It became operational on April 3, 2020.[32]

The 300 MW Victorian Big Battery stores 377 to 450 MWh[33] near Geelong constituted the largest battery in the southern hemisphere[34] The commissioning process resumed in late September after being halted due to a fire (see "Safety" below), and the lessons learned were applied to other batteries.[35] The battery was commissioned on time in December 2021, a year after contract,[36] with an estimated return on investment of 2.4.[37]

Strata Solar, an American commercial solar services provider engaged Tesla as the battery provider for a 100 MW/400 MWh energy storage facility in Ventura County, California, using 142 Megapacks.[38] The deployment replaced a natural-gas powered peaker power plant. In 2023 Strata announced its Scatter Wash project, a Megapack-powered 255 MW / 1 GWh project in Phoenix, Arizona.[11]

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) operates a 182.5 MW / 730 MWh 256-Megapack system at Moss Landing, in Monterey County.[39][40][6][41]

Safety

Grid-scale battery standards and fire containment practices are at an early stage of development.[42]

Fire risks are one factor that has delayed the deployment of some utility energy storage systems. Battery fires cannot be extinguished with water, which is the primary firefighting technique in most communities. A fire in a single cell can cascade to others via thermal runaway, possibly in milliseconds, potentially creating a major hazard. [42]

Preventing fires involves multiple layers of protection. First, is to prevent fire in a single cell, by eliminating sparks and short circuits. However, grid-scale systems face potential problems such as coolant leaks and faulty installation. Venting flammable gases and improved insulation reduce cascade risks. Placing controls outside of the container gives more management options. Instead of suppressants, monitoring the situation while watering surrounding areas can help contain the fire. Sensors that track local weather conditions can help avoid overheating. Lithium-free designs with lower fire risks are possible.[42]

“Plume modeling” attempts to predict how gases from burning battery chemicals might travel. The gases produced vary across battery types, hydrogen fluoride (HF) are of particular concern even at low concentrations. A later plume analysis by Vistra reported that concentrations of HF above California exposure limits could spread across an area 1300 feet in diameter under wind conditions that occur 7 percent of the year.[42]

In Raquette Lake, New York, the town passed a one-year moratorium preventing battery installation in response to protests citing fires at three New York battery installations. Protestors cited a fire in Lyme New York that burned for four days.[42]

A Megapack ignited at PG&E's Moss Landing facility in September 2022. The fire led to a day-long shelter-in-place advisory. PG&E stated that safety measures included thermal alarms that can shut down the system, an incident command center, an audible evacuation alarm, pre-fire planning with local fire crews and emergency shut down protocols. Heat-suppression systems, intended to curb thermal runaway, were accidentally triggered, dousing batteries in water that caused arcing and short circuiting. The plant was shut down for months.[43] Vistra's third installation in Moss Landing adopted the outdoor container model instead of putting the racks under a single roof. (Vistra stated that the outdoor design was chosen to expedite construction.)[42][44]

In July 2021, one of the 212 Megapack modules at the Victorian Big Battery project caught fire[45] due to a coolant leak while the battery was unmonitored. That ignited the adjacent Megapack.[35] Three days later, the fire had burnt itself out as preferred by the fire department.[46][47][42]

A 50 MW / 100 MWh battery project using Tesla Megapack 2 is under construction in Bouldercombe near Rockhampton, Queensland.[48] The alternating current section caught fire in September 2023 and spread to the cells of one Megapack module, also damaging the adjacent module. Both modules are being replaced by Tesla. Other 36 modules were operational a couple of days later.[49]

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>>> Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) -- 14-day RSI: 31.26

https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/5-oversold-blue-chip-stocks-to-buy-right-now-1274453/2/

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 82

Based in Austin, Texas, Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA), designs, develops, manufactures, sell and leases fully electric vehicles and energy generation and storage solutions. Its current portfolio of products includes Model 3 and Model S sedans, Model Y, Model X SUVs, and Cybertruck, while upcoming products include Tesla Roadster and Tesla Semi – a light commercial vehicle.

On January 24, Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) released its financial results for Q4 2023. Its revenue increased by 3% y-o-y to $24.3 billion, while net income surged by 115% y-o-y to $3.7 billion. Its normalized EPS of $0.71 missed consensus estimates by $0.03.

Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) ranks highest on our list of 11 oversold blue chip stocks to buy right now based on the value of shares held by hedge funds. As of Q4 2023, 82 hedge funds owned shares worth $6.3 billion. In its Q4 2023 investor letter, Tsai Capital Corporation, an investment management firm, made the following comments about Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA):

“Tesla has significant and underappreciated competitive advantages across multiple verticals including electric vehicles, software and energy storage. Misunderstood by much of Wall Street – and consequently a favorite of short sellers – Tesla continues to grow rapidly and increase its lead over the competition while delighting consumers in the process. [. . .] While we expect competition for EVs to intensify and for Tesla to lose market share over time, we also believe the company will increase production and deliveries from approximately 1.8 million vehicles today to approximately 15 million vehicles in 2030 and further its lead in autonomous driving capability. In fact, we expect Tesla will eventually license its autonomous driving software, creating high-margin (70-80%), recurring licensing revenue. Tesla is also one of only two companies that dominate the energy storage market, which has the potential to grow to several hundred billion in revenue as power plants around the world increase their focus on renewable energy.”

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>>> Berkshire Hathaway Energy


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkshire_Hathaway_Energy


Company type Subsidiary

Predecessor MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company

Headquarters Des Moines, Iowa

Key people

Greg Abel (Chairman)
William J. Fehrman (CEO & President)

Revenue Increase $25.15 billion (2021)[1]
Operating income Increase $4.25 billion (2012)[2]
Net income Increase $2.57 billion (2012)[2]

Owner Berkshire Hathaway (92%)
Walter Scott Jr. family (8%)
Parent Berkshire Hathaway
Website www.brkenergy.com

Berkshire Hathaway Energy (previously known as MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company until 2014) is a holding company and subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, which owns 92% of the company. Berkshire has owned a controlling stake since 1999.[3] The company also controls power distribution companies in the United Kingdom and Canada.[4] The remaining 8% is owned by the family of Walter Scott Jr.[5]

Greg Abel serves as chairman. Scott W. Thon is president and CEO. David L. Sokol was CEO until 2008.

Until 2014, it was known as MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company from its root as MidAmerican Energy Company; it took on the name of its parent to reflect the diversity of its portfolio.[6]

As of 2019, BHE "serves 4.9 million retail customers, generates 29 gigawatts of power and transports 8.2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day over 16,400 miles of regulated pipeline."[4]

In 2023, a jury ordered BHE subsidiary PacifiCorp to pay $70 million in punitive damages to 17 homeowners negatively impacted by wildfires that afflicted Oregon in 2020.[7]

Subsidiaries & investments

Berkshire Hathaway Energy owns the following companies:

- MidAmerican Energy Company

- MidAmerican Renewables[8] (Renewable Energy/Wind Energy)

- PacifiCorp, purchased for $9.4 billion in 2005[9]

- Northern Powergrid (formerly CE Electric UK)

- Integrated Utility Services UK

- CalEnergy Generation

- Imperial Valley Geothermal Project

- Kern River Gas Transmission Company[10]

- Kern River Pipeline

- Northern Natural Gas Company (Omaha)[11]

- BYD Company (19.92% of outstanding shares)[12]

- NV Energy (electricity and natural gas in most of Nevada)

- Metalogic Inspections Services[13] (Oil and Gas, Power Generation, Fabrication, Pipeline, Services)

- Intelligent Energy Solutions[14] (Heat Pumps, Solar Panels, and Biomass Boilers)

- AltaLink (Electric Utility in Canada) for C$3.24 billion in 2014 [15]


In 2017, BHE's proposed acquisition of Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC[16] was terminated after BHE was outbid by Sempra.[17][18]

BHE investigates producing up to 90 thousand tonnes of lithium carbonate per year (and other minerals) from its 350 MW geothermal power plants in the Lithium Valley next to the Salton Sea in California.[19][20]

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Battery metals glut - >>> Base Metals Up, Gold Edged Higher, Battery Metals Glut


iHub News

January 23 2024


https://ih.advfn.com/market-news/article/5435/base-metals-up-gold-edged-higher-battery-metals-glut


Base metals prices rose on improved sentiment following the Bloomberg report that Chinese authorities are considering a package of measures to stabilize the stock market.

Top metals consumer China “will remain key in driving the general trend of the whole complex, most likely resulting in rangebound moves,” Sucden Financial said.

Meanwhile, gold edged higher as the dollar softened while investors awaited economic data and central bank decisions.

Battery Metals

Wood Mackenzie forecast a glut of lithium, cobalt, nickel and graphite to continue for several years.

It said automakers are likely sitting on large stockpiles of battery cells for EV sales that failed to materialize.

Citing the China Automotive Battery Innovation Alliance, Wood Mackenzie said only 387 GWh of the 747 GWh of power batteries produced in China in 2023 were installed into products.

“With storing batteries being an expensive business, automakers may have a more cautious appetite for purchasing cells in 2024.”

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>>> Arcadium Lithium Announces Completion of Merger of Equals between Allkem and Livent


Arcadium Lithium PLC

04 Jan, 2024


https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/arcadium-lithium-announces-completion-of-merger-of-equals-between-allkem-and-livent-302026354.html


Combination Creates a Leading Global Integrated Lithium Chemicals Producer

Key Strengths

Leading global lithium chemicals producer with the resources, scale and expertise to meet growing customer and industry needs - reliably, safely and responsibly.

Premier lithium resources and manufacturing sites in key locations globally across the lithium value chain.

Highly complementary assets and vertically integrated business model focused on enhancing operational flexibility and predictability while lowering costs.

Ability to de-risk and accelerate growth with a world-class pipeline of development projects, proven execution capabilities and technical, capital and projects expertise.

Leading sustainability profile, with an unwavering commitment to continuous improvement, decarbonization and delivering greater value to customers, employees, communities and shareholders.


PHILADELPHIA and BRISBANE, Australia, Jan. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Arcadium Lithium plc (NYSE: ALTM, ASX: LTM, "Arcadium Lithium") today announced the completion of the all-stock merger of equals between Allkem and Livent. The new, combined company is a leading global lithium chemicals producer committed to safely and responsibly harnessing the power of lithium to improve people's lives and accelerate the transition to a clean energy future. With roughly U.S. $1.9 billion of combined total revenue in 2022 and a global team of more than 2,600 employees, Arcadium Lithium is one of the largest integrated producers of lithium chemicals in the world.

Paul Graves, Chief Executive Officer of Arcadium Lithium, said: "As one of the leading global producers of lithium chemicals, Arcadium Lithium has the resources, scale and expertise to meet the growing needs of our rapidly changing industry. We are a leader in every major lithium extraction process – from hard rock mining to conventional pond and DLE-based brine processing – and vertically integrated, from resource to chemical manufacturing, in strategic locations around the world. This will open doors to new opportunities and strengthen our ability to deliver value to our customers, investors, employees and communities."

Mr. Graves continued: "It is a privilege for me to lead this great company forward with such an incredible team. This transformational merger would not have been possible without the hard work and commitment of our integration planning teams over the past months. I want to thank them and all of our employees around the world for getting us to this position. Together, we are launching an exciting new company that combines the strengths and storied legacies of two incredible organizations, both with an wavering commitment to safe, responsible and sustainable operations. We look forward to building on this strong foundation and leading our industry forward."

Arcadium Lithium ordinary shares will begin trading today on the NYSE under the ticker "ALTM." Arcadium Lithium also maintains a foreign exempt listing on the ASX (via the issue of CHESS Depositary Instruments (CDIs) to Allkem shareholders) and will commence trading on a normal settlement basis on the ASX under the ticker "LTM" at 10:00am (AEDT) on January 5, 2024. Allkem shareholders received either: (a) one Arcadium Lithium ASX listed CDI; or (b) one Arcadium Lithium NYSE listed share depending where they resided and what election (if any) they had made for each Allkem ordinary share held, except for shareholders in certain ineligible jurisdictions, who will receive cash proceeds from the sale of the Arcadium Lithium CDIs in lieu of such CDIs after closing. Livent shareholders received 2.406 Arcadium Lithium NYSE listed ordinary shares for each Livent share held.

Arcadium Lithium will have approximately 1,074 million ordinary shares outstanding upon closing.

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Re-post - >>> With price of Spodumene continuing to slide have decided to sell most of my remaining PILBF. I expect the 1st half of 2024 (and maybe beyond) to be a difficult year for battery minerals. Better to lock in profits today and look for lower prices in the 2nd half of 2024. <<<


https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=173546830


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>>> Schaeffler AG (SCFLF), together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells precision components and systems for automotive and industrial applications in Europe, the Americas, China, and the Asia Pacific. The company's Automotive Technologies division offers engine systems, including rolling bearing solutions, belt products, valve train components, and systems for variable valve trains; and transmission systems, such as torsion and vibration dampers, clutches and double clutch systems, torque converters, CVT components, lightweight differentials, bearing solutions, and synchronizing and gearshift components. This division also provides chassis systems comprising wheel bearings, bearing solutions, steering components, electromechanical actuators for roll stabilizers, and power-assisted steering systems; and hybrid and electrical drive systems that include hybrid modules, electrical axle drives, and electrical wheel hub drives. Its Automotive Aftermarket division offers repair solutions for passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, heavy commercial vehicles, and tractors, as well as supporting services. The company's Industrial division provides components and systems. This division serves customers in the mobility, energy and raw materials, production machinery, aerospace, and industrial distribution. The company has a strategic partnership with Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. The company was formerly known as INA Beteiligungsgesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung and changed its name to Schaeffler AG in October 2014. The company was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Germany. Schaeffler AG is a subsidiary of IHO Verwaltungs GmbH.

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Schaeffler - >>> Toyota’s Rival In Solid-State EV Development Is A Supplier: Schaeffler


Schaeffler and Honda are already close partners. Wouldn’t all-solid-state make a nifty battery pack for a new Acura NSX?


AutoWeek

by Todd Lassa

DEC 21, 2023


https://www.autoweek.com/news/a46192062/solid-state-ev-battery-development-toyota-schaeffler/


At the upcoming CES 2024, supplier Schaeffler Americas will display a “next-generation” all-solid-state EV battery.

Solid-state advantages include 40% better energy density than existing battery technologies, as well as much longer range, and no need for rare materials like cobalt to be mined in China or The Congo.

A Schaeffler executive says the supplier already has a customer for its solid-state technology, but he declined to name the automaker.

A well-established supplier, little known to most enthusiasts, is in the running to become a pioneer in solid-state battery EV technology. Schaeffler Group, founded in Germany in 1946, is known to the auto industry—which constitutes 60% of its business—primarily for bearings.

It returns to CES in January after a four-year absence to show a new electric beam axle for pickup trucks and a new rear-steering system. The company wants 45% of its manufacturing output in 2030 to be products that did not exist in 2020.

But the prototype Schaeffler Americas will show at CES 2024 that caught our attention is what its chief technology officer, Jeff Hemphill, described as a “next-generation” all-solid-state EV battery.

The OEM that appears to be the most active in solid-state development is Toyota, the hybrid pioneer considered behind the competition in battery-electric vehicles. But others are working on solid-state batteries as well, including Honda, Nissan, Ford, BMW, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz.

For more detail on the Tier 1 supplier’s solid-state work, we spoke with Rashid Farahati, director of engineering for Schaeffler Americas. Schaeffler’s solid-state battery at CES is made with prototype parts encased in a pack built by another company that specializes in making small samples on the lab scale. It’s installed in a show vehicle, Farahati said.

“We have manufacturing skill and we have (parts) coating skill,” Farahati said, so the company will not even dabble in lithium-ion. “Solid-state, electrolyte, is best for Schaeffler.”

At the outset, solid-state will pencil out for expensive, high-end sports cars and luxury cars.

Despite speculation that Honda, a close partner of Schaeffler, will have a mainstream model solid-state EV on the market next year, Farahati says Schaeffler’s solid-state battery won’t be production ready until late in this decade.

Solid-state advantages include 40% better energy density than existing battery technologies, as well as much longer range, no need for rare materials like cobalt to be mined in China or The Congo, and no necessary flammable liquids inside.

So why even consider an EV with a lithium-ion battery pack? Won’t solid-state kill off that technology? Cost, it turns out, is not an advantage for solid-state.

“For now, we’re not talking about cost,” Farahati says. “I believe solid-state is not replacing lithium-ion anytime soon.”

The market is “very complicated,” he adds. For several years at the outset, solid-state will pencil out for expensive, high-end sports cars and luxury cars. Give it several years—well into the ‘30s at least—after Schaeffler’s production release before solid-state can find its way into “affordable” electric vehicles.

Farahati allowed that Schaeffler already has a customer for its solid-state technology, but he declined to name the automaker.

But wouldn’t a new, all-solid-state electric Acura NSX be nifty?

At the Monterey Car Week last August, The Drive quoted Honda executives who said the company would launch an EV in 2024 with a solid-state battery that would weigh half as much as a similar-size lithium-ion battery.

This autumn, family-controlled Schaeffler acquired the drive-technology company Vitesco Technologies, a Continental AG spinoff, for $3.8 billion, according to US News & World Report. Together, they plan to open a manufacturing plant in Ohio.

Meanwhile in Columbus, Honda and Schaeffler will partner with Ohio State University and the Institute for Materials and Manufacturing Research to repurpose a 25,000-square-foot facility into a $22 million battery cell lab and research center, scheduled to open in April 2025.

It will be able to build a full solid-state battery cell in small, prototype numbers, Farahati said.

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QuantumScape - >>> Forget Tesla: 1 EV Stock That Could Make You Rich


by Daniel Miller

The Motley Fool

December 23, 2023


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/forget-tesla-1-ev-stock-113500008.html


Investors often dream about finding the next game-changing company. Of course, finding a game-changing company set to revolutionize an industry is far easier said than done. Remember back when Tesla changed the game by essentially introducing a sports car that was battery electric powered? And Tesla did so at a time ditching fossil fuels seemed daunting -- and that's putting it lightly. Those high-flying and wild days might be behind Tesla, although its story has plenty of room to run yet, but one company might be about to enter game-changing territory.

"If QuantumScape can get this technology into mass production, it holds the potential to transform the industry," said Stan Whittingham, co-inventor of the lithium-ion battery and winner of the 2019 Nobel Prize in chemistry, in a QuantumScape press release.

QuantumScape's (NYSE: QS) battery technology could be groundbreaking. At a time when electric vehicles (EVs) are positioning themselves for mass adoption, the company could be a lucrative long-term investment. Move over Tesla; QuantumScape could be the next stock to make investors rich.

QuantumScape who?

Starting with some basic background on a company you may not have heard of, QuantumScape has over 12 years of research and development investment in its battery technologies. It employs a world-class battery development team comprising over 800 employees and owns over 300 patents and patent applications.

QuantumScape has also caught the eye of major global automakers during its journey. It has contracts with six automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), including Volkswagen, a key partner and investor, and two other top 10 OEMs, two established global luxury OEMs, and a pure-play EV company.

Encouraging results

To simplify a somewhat complicated story, QuantumScape's battery technology improves the process by simplifying the cell design. It eliminates the need for graphite, silicon, or lithium foil, enabling the battery to increase energy density and improve range while boasting 15-minute fast charging.

More specifically, QuantumScape's batteries could recharge from zero to 80% of capacity in about half the time most lithium-ion EV batteries require. An EV using QuantumScape's batteries could extend its range by roughly 80% with similar weight. Essentially, the potential groundbreaking battery technology could improve on nearly every aspect of the status quo.

At the end of 2022, QuantumScape shipped its first A0 prototype cells to potential customers for a proof-of-concept. Its top-performing AO prototype cell in one potential customer's battery testing labs achieved over 1,000 full-cycle equivalents with over 95% discharge energy retention. While management reiterated this was a cherry-picked high-end result and that there's much work to do regarding reliability, it's an extraordinary result and well above its commercial target of 800 cycles and 80% energy retention.

High upside

Huge, obvious risks come with investing in a preproduction company. The blunt truth is that no company has done what QuantumScape is trying to achieve, and the company, despite its recent encouraging test results, could ultimately fail to produce its technology entirely or as reliably as required to transform the industry.

However, QuantumScape has spent much of 2023 attempting to move from prototype to product, and the company has a cash runway that extends into 2026, with the ability to potentially raise more funds if necessary.

If QuantumScape does accomplish its targets and reaches production with a next-generation EV battery, its opportunity is massive. Consider that battery electric vehicles (BEV) only recently hit about 10% of the global light-vehicle market, and management believes the opportunity could potentially be hundreds of billions of dollars annually for decades.

Time to buy?

For all of its massive upside, there are the aforementioned risks investors take when investing in a preproduction company. QuantumScape is still a few years away from mass-producing its batteries, and the process of going from a successful prototype to a mass-production battery has been slow -- a speed Wall Street isn't fond of.

QuantumScape isn't an investment for everyone; it's not for the risk-averse or faint of heart. But a small position in QuantumScape has incredible upside after shedding nearly 70% of its value since its initial public offering. If the company gets to mass production and carves out its slice of a massive target-market pie, it could easily drive not only global electric vehicles but also your entire portfolio.

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Re-post - >>> I spent the first half of 2023 selling most of my individual holdings with the expectation of a substantial correction; obviously wrong. After the recent run I don't have much conviction for individual issues, I'm happy to collect interest payment and wait. I do like some miners, lithium and copper, but the recent bump in price combined with the negative opinions of near term potential keep me watching. I do still have a stake in Pilbara Minerals bought in late 2020 and early 2021. I like PKX, ALB, PILBF, FCX and SCCO, but not until they drop back below their recent lows. I do like semiconductors, but not at these elevated prices. It's a harder space for me to pick winners so I prefer using SMH. Again, there would need to be a substantial correction to make them attractive. As I age I become more willing to wait, watch and collect interest payments.

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https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=173490910



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>>> Toyota Lays Out Its EV Battery Road Map, Including a Solid-State Battery (Eventually)

Toyota has been very late to the EV party, but now the automaker is unmistakably looking to dominate.


Car and Driver Magazine

BY MIKE DUFF

NOV 26, 2023


https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a45942785/toyota-future-ev-battery-plans/


The Japanese brand was late to the EV party but plans a dramatic expansion in models and innovative battery technology; it's planning to sell 3.5 million EVs annually across 30 different Toyota and Lexus model lines by 2030.

Long-range battery packs will provide up to 500 miles of range by 2026 and 620 miles by 2027.

Toyota is aiming to introduce solid-state batteries in 2027, which will be capable of ultra-fast 10 minute recharge times from 10 to 80 percent state of charge.


Toyota recently announced it had passed the benchmark of having built more than 300 million cars since the company was founded 88 years ago. But despite having pioneered hybrid powertrains, the company's high-level skepticism towards EVs means that very few of those cars have been fully electric; the Toyota bZ4X and Lexus RZ450e have only gone on sale in the last year. It is one of the last major automakers to enter the EV space.

But following the arrival of new CEO Koji Sato, Toyota has dramatically increased its commitment to electrics, with the aim being to catch rivals with a wave of new models and innovative battery technology.

One of the first new EVs will be a three-row SUV (pictured above) that is set to be produced at Toyota's Georgetown, Kentucky, plant from 2025, and which will be aimed at the same part of the market as the Kia EV9. Toyota says this new model will use batteries produced in its own factory in Liberty, North Carolina, a plant that already employs 2000 people but is set to increase to 5000.

By 2030 Toyota says it will be able to make 30 GWh of batteries in North Carolina each year, enough for 375,000 80.0-kWh packs, but with production split across 10 different lines to produce different-sized packs for EV and plug-in-hybrid models. There will be four other lines making straight hybrid packs, and we can safely bet that the vast majority of Toyota production, and possibly all of it, will be hybridized by then.

Toyota says it is committed to making 3.5 million EVs annually by 2030, with 30 different models across Toyota and Lexus brands. It is clear a significant number of those will be produced in the States.

Toyota's battery technology is also going to develop quickly, with more details shared during a recent visit C/D made to Toyota's Shimoyama engineering center in Japan. The first evolution will be the one promised by the Toyota FT-Se and Lexus LF-ZC concepts that were shown at this year's Tokyo auto show: an ultra-compact high-performance next-generation lithium-ion battery that will be able to sit under the floors of coupes and sedans without adding excessive height. In their lowest configuration, Toyota engineers say that the battery pack will be just 3.9 inches tall, something made possible in part by side-mounted rather than top-mounted terminals.

Fast-Charging, 400-Mile Batteries . . .

This performance pack will first be used in 2026, with Toyota saying it will be 20 percent cheaper to produce than the bZ4X's pack, but also that it will allow a 10 to 80 percent fast-charge time of around 20 minutes. (The engineers we spoke to also suggested it will have a 900-volt architecture.) In its largest configuration, and in the most efficient vehicle, this performance pack will give over 400 miles of EPA range. (All range figures in the above image are quoted assuming the more generous WLTP standard, but EPA range figures are typically about 15 percent lower, so we've adjusted Toyota's claims downward accordingly to make them comparable to those of other EVs sold in the U.S.)

. . . and Cheaper, Space-Efficient Batteries

A cheaper next-generation pack will follow shortly afterward that's intended for lower-cost models and using lithium-iron-phosphate battery (LFP) chemistry as well as an innovative bipolar internal design. While a conventional monopolar battery uses separate cathode and anode elements, bipolar combines cathode and anode on a specially designed current collector, making it more space-efficient and allowing greater energy density. Toyota says this first bipolar pack will be 40 percent cheaper than the bX4X's battery and have around a 30-minute fast-charge speed, providing about 315 miles of range in its biggest configuration.

A high-performance bipolar pack will follow in 2027, switching back to lithium-ion chemistry and a high nickel cathode, with this being the one that Toyota says will ultimately deliver on its claim of a 520-mile driving range. It will also be 10 percent cheaper than the performance battery and will have a 20-minute 10-to-80-percent recharge time under the best possible conditions.

The Eagerly Awaited Solid-State Battery (in 2027)

Beyond that, Toyota confirms plans to introduce solid-state batteries as soon as 2027, although we note that the date has already slipped from the 2025 that was being quoted last year. Solid-state batteries use solid rather than liquid electrolytes, allowing for a greater tolerance of high voltages and temperatures and improving energy density and reducing weight. The challenges are complexity, cost, and the difficulty in delivering long-term durability. Toyota says its first-gen solid-state packs are targeting about 520 miles of range, with a 10-minute 10-to-80 charge capability, but also says that subsequent evolution will likely move peak range up to 630 miles. That figure that would surely be enough to persuade even the most determined EV doubter that long journeys can be accomplished electrically.

Should Toyota deliver on all these claims—and it is not a brand given to overpromising—then it will be going from the back of the pack on electrification right to the cutting edge. We certainly can’t fault the company for any lack of ambition, with the stated aim to be producing 3.5 million EVs annually across 30 different Toyota and Lexus model lines by 2030.

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>>> Pilbara Minerals Limited (PILBF) engages in the exploration, development, and operation of mineral resources in Australia. The company primarily explores for lithium. It primarily holds a 100% interest in the Pilgangoora lithium-tantalum project located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The company was incorporated in 2005 and is based in West Perth, Australia.

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>>> Gina Rinehart’s Hancock, SQM Agree to Buy Azure for $1.1 Billion


Bloomberg

by Sybilla Gross and Annie Lee

December 18, 2023


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gina-rinehart-hancock-sqm-agree-224424596.html


(Bloomberg) -- Chilean lithium giant SQM has partnered with iron ore billionaire Gina Rinehart to make a sweetened A$1.7 billion ($1.1 billion) cash offer for Azure Minerals Ltd., ending two months of uncertainty over the deal after Australia’s richest woman crashed an earlier bid.

Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting Pty. and Sociedad Quimica & Minera de Chile SA, as SQM is formally known, will offer A$3.70 for each share in the Perth-based miner, a proposal already recommended by Azure’s board, the two sides said on Tuesday. The offer represents a nearly 52% premium to the price before the previous proposal in October.

SQM had earlier offered A$3.52 per Azure share, under a similar scheme of arrangement structure — a 44% premium. But that bid was immediately thrown into question when Rinehart built a near-blocking 18% stake.

Mineral Resources Ltd., led by mining veteran Chris Ellison, followed by taking a 12% holding in Azure. His intentions are not yet clear.

At least two other major shareholders, Creasy Group and Delphi Group, have indicated that they intend to sell all of their shares to the joint bidders, handing SQM and Hancock another 23% to add to their collective 37.8%, and all but securing the bid. Creasy owns 40% of Azure’s promising Andover lithium project in West Australia.

Azure shares, however, gained as much as 2.2% in early trade Tuesday, rising to A$3.71, just above the improved offer — indicating at least some in the market are betting the lithium miner could yet attract more attention.

Rinehart’s credibility in developing bulk commodity businesses – as well as her political sway in and around the Pilbara — likely played into SQM’s willingness to partner with Hancock, said Jon Bishop, analyst at Jarden Securities.

“The alternative would’ve been Chris and Gina getting in the way of the deal and frustrating it,” Bishop said. “My view would be that SQM would look at all of those things on balance and say - well, we could go it alone as a foreigner, or we could have a situation where we can work with a party that probably makes development eminently easier.”

The lithium industry has seen a flurry of acquisition offers and deals over the past months, as the crucial role of the battery metal in the energy transition and optimistic expectations around long-term demand prompt producers and investors to bet on new sources of supply. Interest in small and mid-sized producers in Western Australia, one of the world’s most promising new lithium regions, has surged, even as prices for the metal are now at their lowest since 2021.

Rinehart added to the frenzy, stepping into a bid for Liontown Resources Ltd. and gradually building a 19.9% stake in the miner. That was enough to prompt top global producer Albemarle Corp. to withdraw its A$6.6 billion offer in October. The Australian target was left scrambling to find alternative funds for its flagship Kathleen Valley project.

“SQM brings downstream lithium chemical processing experience, while Hancock brings upstream hard rock mining experience, which in my view, makes the project more likely to reach production and successfully ramp up over time,” said Seth Goldstein, equity strategist at Morningstar Research Services LLC.

The outlook for the battery material isn’t expected to improve any time soon, as a wave of new production comes online and slower growth in electric vehicle sales in China creates oversupply in the short term, raising questions over whether some deals in the sector are too expensive.

But the current deal gives Rinehart, who has built an iron ore empire, a stake in a metal feeding the energy transition. SQM, meanwhile, gains supply outside of Chile, where the company’s current operating contract expires in 2030.

The revised deal does not contain any minimum acceptance conditions, though the takeover is contingent on more than 50% of all shareholders voting in favor of the joint bid.

If the scheme of arrangement structure is not successful, SQM and Hancock have also proposed an off-market takeover offer for a cash amount of A$3.65 per Azure share.

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Electric vehicles --> I would never buy one until the battery technology improves A LOT (see video below). I would forget about EVs for now, unless you enjoy getting incinerated in a car fire, or having your house incinerated. The new solid state batteries can fix the fire / explosion problem, but not sure when or if these will be widely adopted -

>>> A solid-state battery has higher energy density than a Li-ion battery that uses liquid electrolyte solution. It doesn’t have a risk of explosion or fire, so there is no need to have components for safety, thus saving more space. Then we have more space to put more active materials which increase battery capacity in the battery. A solid-state battery can increase energy density per unit area since only a small number of batteries are needed. For that reason, a solid-state battery is perfect to make an EV battery system of module and pack, which needs high capacity.

https://www.samsungsdi.com/column/technology/detail/56462.html?listType=gallery#:~:text=A%20solid%2Dstate%20battery%20has,safety%2C%20thus%20saving%20more%20space.

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>>> Exxon to start lithium production for EVs in the U.S. by 2027


Reuters

11-13-23

By Sabrina Valle



https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/topstories/exxon-to-start-lithium-production-for-evs-in-the-u-s-by-2027/ar-AA1jQQMr?OCID=ansmsnnews11



HOUSTON (Reuters) -Exxon Mobil on Monday said it plans to start producing lithium from subsurface wells by 2027 to provide supplies of the key metal used in electric-car batteries and advanced electronics.

Oil majors are investing in the electrification sector as governments in the United States and Europe set programs to promote wider use of electric vehicles and reduce fossil-fuel consumption.

Exxon said it will start production from briny waters pumped out of the ground in an area in the state of Arkansas known to hold significant lithium deposits to help develop a domestic source of the metal.

"In the long term, lithium really is a global opportunity," said Dan Ammann, president of Exxon's Low Carbon business unit. "We are starting here because there is an urgent need to ramp up domestic production of these critical materials."

The largest U.S. oil company said it would use conventional oil and gas drilling methods to access lithium-rich saltwater from reservoirs about 10,000 feet underground and then use direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology to separate lithium from the saltwater.

Ammann did not disclose how much Exxon intends to invest in the lithium business, or when it might become profitable.

The company's majority-owned Canadian affiliate, Imperial Oil, also has invested in a lithium-extraction pilot project in Alberta, Canada.

Exxon plans to begin production with partner Tetra Technologies, Reuters exclusively reported on Saturday. It will produce the metal onsite and sell it under the brand name Mobil Lithium, the company said on Monday.

Exxon had acquired the rights to 120,000 gross acres of the Smackover formation in Arkansas earlier this year.

European oil rivals BP and Shell have invested in electric vehicle charging stations as part of their energy transition strategy. A Deloitte study released earlier this year showed investors would like to see more spending on such technologies.

Exxon, which invented the rechargeable lithium-ion battery in the 1970s, but stepped away from the technology, has no plans to invest in charging stations, the executive said.

Exxon is focusing on lithium production to be used not only in EVs but also consumer electronics and energy storage systems that can hold electricity generated from intermittent solar and wind power.

There are about 280 million vehicles in the United States today, and less than 3 million are EVs, or about 1% of the total, Ammann said.

"There is still 99% to go, which suggests it is a very, very big opportunity," he said.

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>>> U.S. Set to Draw Record Amount From Its Emergency Oil Reserve

Oil prices dropped sharply on the news


Investopedia

By DANIEL LIBERTO

November 01, 2023


https://www.investopedia.com/us-set-to-draw-record-amount-from-emergency-oil-reserve-5224294?utm_campaign=quote-yahoo&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=referral


The U.S. government is contemplating releasing up to 180 million barrels of oil from its emergency supplies, people familiar with the matter told Reuters, in a desperate bid to lower high fuel prices and curb inflation.


KEY TAKEAWAYS

The U.S. government is contemplating releasing up to 180 million barrels of oil from its emergency supplies over several months in a bid to lower fuel prices and curb inflation.

This bold move came a day before IEA member countries are expected to reveal a collective oil release and on the same day that OPEC refused to deviate from modest oil output rises.

News of Biden's impending announcement pushed down oil prices, which hit 14-year highs in March.

Analysts believe that Biden's plan could help the market rebalance this year but won't be enough to resolve the structural supply deficit caused by sanctions on Russia.


If the White House follows through with this plan, it would represent the largest release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) in its nearly 50-year history and mark the third time in the past six months that the U.S. government has tapped into its emergency supplies. The 180 million barrels of oil reportedly set to be accessed is equivalent to approximately two days of global demand, according to Reuters, and will be drawn from gradually over several months, with some sources saying that the plan is to tap into as much as 1 million barrels of oil per day.

President Joe Biden is expected to confirm these plans at 13:30 p.m. Eastern Time, when the White House has him scheduled to discuss "his administration's actions to reduce the impact of Putin's price hike on energy prices and lower gas prices at the pump for American families."

President Biden's intentions were revealed a day before the International Energy Agency (IEA) member countries are due to meet to discuss and decide on a collective oil release aimed at cooling global crude prices that hit 14-year highs in March after Russia invaded Ukraine and shortly before the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) refused to abide by requests from the West to significantly ramp up supply.

Oil Prices Fall Sharply, but OPEC Refuses to Play Ball

News of Biden's impending announcement pushed oil prices down. When markets opened in the U.S., West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude were both down roughly 5% to about $102 and $108 per barrel, respectively.

Goldman Sachs, in a research note sent to its clients, claimed that releasing 180 million barrels over six months would help the market rebalance this year but not resolve the structural supply deficit caused by cutting Russia out of the picture.

Oil prices have rocketed since Vladimir Putin ordered his country to invade Ukraine in late February and governments around the world responded by hitting Russia, the second biggest exporter of oil, with hefty sanctions. Subsequent supply concerns drove Brent crude futures up to about $139 per barrel earlier in March, the highest level since 2008.

Other than drawing more barrels from its own reserves and counting on IEA members to follow suit, the U.S. has been trying to convince Saudi Arabia, the biggest oil exporter in the world, and other big OPEC producers to sharply ramp up supplies and take the heat out of prices. However, OPEC has been refusing to budge, confirming that it will increase supply by a modest 432,000 barrels per day in May and not by more.

Consistently High Oil Prices Could Lead to a Recession

President Biden is desperate to lower fuel prices as it has contributed to high inflation and hurt his administration's approval rating ahead of the midterm elections in November. High oil prices harm Americans in many ways, affecting, among other things, driving costs and the amount paid to heat homes.

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>>> Battery Boom: $154B invested, 166K jobs planned in US as EV rollout intensifies

Spending from the IRA, Bipartisan Infrastructure Act has fueled EV investments


Yahoo Finance

by Pras Subramanian

September 6, 2023


New data shows the massive impact the electric vehicle buildout is already making on manufacturing and infrastructure spending in America — so far a big win for the Biden administration.

Catalyzed by legislation like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), data from the BlueGreen Alliance Foundation — a progressive nonprofit organization that promotes clean energy investment and solutions to environmental issues — found that EV investment in factories and battery facilities totaled $154 billion since 2010, across 319 facilities. That will add up to 188,000 new jobs when all spending is complete.

The vast majority of this spending came after 2021, when the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act was signed, and in 2022 and 2023 following passage of the IRA. Of the $154 billion of spending announced, $124 billion has come since the start of 2021.

“The EV transition is impacting every aspect of the economy, including the manufacturing of EVs and the EV supply chain,” Tom Taylor, Atlas Public Policy senior policy analyst, said in a statement. Atlas Public Policy co-sponsored the data initiative, dubbed the EV Jobs Hub, with the BlueGreen Alliance Foundation. “The [data] seeks to cut through the noise from large announcements and organize it in a more digestible way,” Taylor said.

Drilling deeper into the data, the organization finds that South Korean electronics and battery giant LG plans to spend the most here in the US ($17.2B), followed by Tesla (TSLA) ($15.7B), GM (GM) ($15.5B), Ford (F) ($11.9B), and SK Innovation ($10.3B), another South Korean company focused on batteries. In terms of industry, battery manufacturing counts for 65% of all spending, the study finds.

The data isn't all rosy, however, as on the labor front the companies that spend the most don’t always hire the most. As seen in EV battery and powertrain manufacturing, fewer workers are needed to do the job. This has led to deep concern on the part of the United Auto Workers (UAW) — currently negotiating with the Big Three (Ford, GM, and Stellantis) on a new labor deal — with job protection in the form of higher wages and ending of tiered employment on the top of the union’s wish list as the EV transition rolls out across North America.

“The UAW supports and is ready for the transition to a clean auto industry. But the EV transition must be a just transition that ensures auto workers have a place in the new economy,” UAW president Shawn Fain said in a statement in late August.

Of the companies hiring the most in the EV space since 2010, Tesla leads the pack with 28,500 announced hires, followed by Ford (13,800), Rivian (RIVN) (13,700), LG (11,300), and Hyundai (11,100). Only Ford and LG (at joint GM/LG Ultium battery plants) use unionized labor.

Indeed, of the facilities built since 2010, only 25% are represented by unionized labor, which is a concern for the White House and Democratic legislators.

The stakes couldn’t be higher for the automakers as well as politicians looking to tout the EV buildout. GM’s head of manufacturing said in a video statement on Tuesday that UAW demands would threaten the automaker’s “manufacturing momentum.” It would also threaten one of the bigger manufacturing wins the US has seen in the last 50 years.

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Re-post - >>> Opened position in Power Metals Corp. Their Case Lake property has tremendous potential reserves of lithium, cesium and tantalum. As an exploration phase miner it's early, but the promising results so far, mining friendly jurisdiction coupled with a readily available existing infrastructure (electricity, roads....) make them a great prospect. Looking at Power Metal and Patriot Battery, I picked Power Metal, believe they have as good or better long term prospects.

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https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=172359685;


>>> Power Metals Corp. (PWRMF), an exploration company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and evaluation of resource properties in Canada. The company primarily explores for lithium, cesium, and tantalum metal deposits. It holds a 100% interest in the Case Lake property that consists of 475 cell claims located in Ontario. The company also has an option agreement to acquire 100% interests in the Paterson Lake property consisting of 106 cell claims located in northwestern Ontario; and holds Gullwing-Tot Lake property that consists of 112 cell claims located in northwestern Ontario. The company was formerly known as Aldrin Resource Corp. and changed its name to Power Metals Corp. in December 2016. Power Metals Corp. was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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>>> Texas Must Upgrade Its Energy Grid To Accommodate New Renewable Power


Oil Price.com

by Charles Kennedy

Jul 14, 2023


https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Texas-Must-Upgrade-Its-Energy-Grid-To-Accommodate-New-Renewable-Power.html


Texas needs upgrades to its electricity transmission grid to accommodate a soaring share of renewable energy generation, otherwise the state risks surging shares of curtailments of wind and solar power generation by 2035, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said this week.

Texas ranks first in the United States in terms of installed wind energy capacity and second in solar capacity and storage. Wind energy alone produces 21% of all electricity in the state, according to the American Clean Power Association.

Per EIA’s estimates, the combined wind and solar generating capacity in Texas’s power market is set to double by 2035, fueling a growing renewable share of total generation.

But without grid upgrades, curtailments of wind and solar generation will also soar, the administration said in a recent report discussing the transmission limits on renewables growth in Texas.

Since grid operators must maintain a continuous balance between supply and demand to assure power system reliability, in case more wind and solar power is available for production than the grid can use, grid operators have to curtail wind and solar generation to keep the grid balanced.

Last year, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) curtailed 5% of its total available wind generation and 9% of total available utility-scale solar generation. If grid upgrades are not made, those curtailments could surge to 13% of total available wind generation, and 19% of solar generation by 2035, the EIA said.

ERCOT currently has the most renewable generation in the country due to significant wind resources and focused investment in the electric transmission system, the administration said in its analysis.

“Without expanding ERCOT’s electrical transmission network and storage capacity, congestion and curtailments will rise,” the EIA said, adding that the strong projected growth in renewable energy in ERCOT over the next decade could be constrained by transmission capacity.

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>>> Threatened by shortages, electric car makers race for supplies of lithium for batteries


AP

by JOE McDONALD

June 27, 2023


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/threatened-shortages-electric-car-makers-035822815.html


BEIJING (AP) — Threatened by possible shortages of lithium for electric car batteries, automakers are racing to lock in supplies of the once-obscure “white gold” in a politically and environmentally fraught competition from China to Nevada to Chile.

General Motors Co. and the parent company of China’s BYD Auto Ltd. went straight to the source and bought stakes in lithium miners, a rare step in an industry that relies on outside vendors for copper and other raw materials. Others are investing in lithium refining or ventures to recycle the silvery-white metal from used batteries.

A shortfall in lithium supplies would be an obstacle for government and industry plans to ramp up sales to tens of millions of electric vehicles a year. It is fueling political conflict over resources and complaints about the environmental cost of extracting them.

"We already have that risk” of not being able to get enough, said GM's chief financial officer, Paul A. Jacobson, at a Deutsche Bank conference in mid-June.

“We’ve got to have partnerships with people that can get us the lithium in the form that we need," Jacobson said.

Ford Motor Co. has signed contracts stretching up to 11 years into the future with lithium suppliers on two continents. Volkswagen AG and Honda Motor Co. are trying to reduce their need for freshly mined ore by forming recycling ventures.

Global lithium output is on track to triple this decade, but sales of electric SUVs, sports cars and sedans that rose 55% last year threaten to outrun that. Each battery requires about eight kilograms (17 pounds) of lithium, plus cobalt, nickel and other metals.

“There will be a shortage of EV battery supplies,” said Joshua Cobb, senior auto analyst for BMI.

Adding to uncertainty, lithium has emerged as another conflict in strained U.S.-Chinese relations.

Beijing, Washington and other governments see metal supplies for electric vehicles as a strategic issue and are tightening controls on access. Canada ordered three Chinese companies last year to sell lithium mining assets on security grounds.

Other governments including Indonesia, Chile and Zimbabwe are trying to maximize their return on deposits of lithium, cobalt and nickel by requiring miners to invest in refining and processing before they can export.

GM is buying direct access to lithium by investing $650 million in the Canadian developer of a Nevada mine that is the biggest U.S. source. In return, GM says it will get enough for 1 million vehicles a year.

Conservationists and American Indians are asking a federal court to block development of the Nevada mine, which the Biden administration has embraced as part of its clean energy agenda. Opponents say it might poison water supplies and soil and pollute nesting grounds for birds.

“Securing metals must not come at a sacrifice to the environment,” said a U.S. group, the Natural Resources Defense Council, in a report last year.

BYD Auto’s parent company, battery maker BYD Co., has announced more than $5 billion in investments in lithium mining and refining over the past 18 months.

Most are in China, but BYD also is promising to spend $290 million on a processing facility in Chile, one of the biggest lithium producers. In exchange, BYD is allowed to buy lithium from Chilean miners at a discount.

At home, BYD announced last year it would invest 28.5 billion yuan ($4.2 billion) in a venture to produce 100,000 tons of lithium carbonate a year in the eastern city of Yichun.

Another Chinese automaker, NIO Inc., bought 12% of Australian lithium miner Greenwing Resources Ltd. last year for 12 million Australian dollars ($8.1 million).

Despite rising output, the industry may face shortages of lithium and cobalt as early as 2025 if enough isn’t invested in production, according to Leonardo Paoli and Timur Gul of the International Energy Agency.

“Supply side bottlenecks are becoming a real challenge," said Paoli and Gul in a report last year.

Automakers might be putting in their own money to reassure “notoriously risk-averse” miners, according to Alastair Bedwell of GlobalData. He said miners are reluctant to “go all out” on lithium until they are sure the industry won't switch to batteries made with other metals.

Even if they do, developing lithium sources is a yearslong process.

Mines that came online in 2010-19 took on average more than 16 years from discovery to the start of production, according to Paoli and Gul of the IEA.

“These long lead times raise questions about the ability of supply to ramp up,” they wrote.

Investment by automakers might “help to remove some of their partners’ risk and ultimately create more production,” Bedwell said in an email.

Worldwide lithium resources are estimated at 80 million tons by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Bolivia’s are the biggest at 21 millions tons, followed by Australia with 17 million and Chile with 9 million. China has 4.5 million tons of known reserves and the United States has 1 million.

Forecasts of annual global production range as high as 1.5 million tons by 2030. But demand, if EV sales keep rising at double-digit annual rates, is forecast to increase to up to 3 million tons.

Sales of battery-powered and gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles took off in 2021, more than doubling over the previous year to 6.8 million, according to EV Volumes, a research firm. Last year's sales rose to 10.5 million.

China accounted for 60% of last year's sales, two-thirds of production and three-quarters of battery manufacturing.

Ford plans to sell 2 million EVs a year by 2026. GM, with 2022 sales of 3.6 million cars, has plans for 30 electric models and North American production capacity of 1 million two years from now in 2025.

Toyota Motor Co.’s annual target is 3.5 million by 2030. VW, which sold 4.6 million cars worldwide last year, is aiming for 70% of sales in Europe and 50% in China and the United States to be electric by 2030.

President Joe Biden last year announced an official goal for half of all new cars sold in the United State to be electric or other zero-emissions technology by 2030.

As sales rise, so does government unease, especially in Washington and Beijing, about access to lithium and other minerals and the potential for strategic competition.

Volkswagen’s battery unit, PowerCo, signed an agreement with Canada last August to develop suppliers of “critical raw materials” including lithium, cobalt and nickel.

The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, in a statement welcomed cooperation with “close friends” on “raw material security.”

Last year, Canada imposed limits on foreign involvement in production of lithium and other “critical minerals” for batteries and other high-tech products.

China’s government has accused the United States, Canada, Japan and other governments of misusing phony security concerns to hurt Chinese competitors in electric cars, smartphones, clean energy and other emerging technologies.

Other governments welcome Chinese investment.

China’s biggest lithium producer, Ganfeng Lithium Co., bought Argentina’s Lithea Inc. last year for $962 million. In 2021, Ganfeng bought Mexico’s Bacanora Lithium for $391 million. It is developing a project in the northern region of Sonora with planned annual output of 35,000 tons.

China's Tianqi Lithium Inc. owns 23.8% of Chile's dominant producer, Sociedad Quimicay Minera, or SQM.

About two-thirds of the world’s lithium comes from mines. That involves crushing rock and using acids to extract metals. It leaves toxic heaps of chemical-laced tailings.

The rest is extracted from salt lakes or from salt flats called salars in Chile and Bolivia. That can require vast evaporation ponds.

The industry is working on technology to extract lithium from hot springs, lakes and clay deposits with less environmental impact.

VW has a five-year supply contract with Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd., which plans to produce lithium hydroxide from geothermal brine in Germany’s Rhine Valley.

Vulcan says its process uses no fossil fuels. That is a response to complaints EVs do little to reduce overall carbon emissions because energy for their manufacturing and charging usually comes from coal, gas and oil.

As they ramp up supplies, automakers face another bottleneck: Lack of refining capacity to purify raw lithium into battery material.

Tesla Inc. broke ground in Texas last month for a lithium refinery that CEO Elon Musk should produce enough for 1 million vehicles per year by 2025.

“The choke point is much more on refining capacity than it is on mining,” said Musk in an April conference call with reporters.

Other manufacturers including BMW AG, which aims to make at least half its sales fully electric by 2030, are buying stakes in lithium refiners.

As for GM, “I don’t know” whether it will build its own refinery, Jacobson said.

“Where I can help fund some expansion in exchange for guaranteed supply, that’s a good thing,” he said. “We should be open to doing that.”

Smaller brands without their own lithium supply might be squeezed, according to Bedwell. He said they might be forced to pay more, which might threaten the existence of some.

“Certainly, mass-market players who don’t get their lithium strategy right will be at a disadvantage,” said Bedwell.

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>>> Ford, SK joint venture set to receive $9.2 billion US government loan for battery plants


Reuters

By David Shepardson

June 22, 2023


WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Energy Department on Thursday said it intends to loan a joint venture of Ford Motor and South Korean battery maker SK On up to $9.2 billion to help finance construction of three new battery manufacturing plants in Tennessee and Kentucky.

The conditional commitment for the low-cost government loan for the Blue Oval SK joint venture comes from the government's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) loan program. SK On is a unit of South Korea's SK Innovation. The joint venture is building three battery manufacturing facilities in Kentucky and Tennessee capable of collectively producing more than 120 gigawatt hours annually, the Energy Department said.

The department said the plants will displace more than 455 million gallons of gasoline per year for the lifetime of the vehicles powered by these batteries. The project is expected to create a total of approximately 5,000 construction jobs in Tennessee and Kentucky, and 7,500 operations jobs once the plants are producing batteries.

Last year, the department awarded a joint venture of General Motors Co and LG Energy Solution $2.5 billion to help finance construction of new lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing facilities. The loan to Ultium Cells LLC is for facilities in Ohio, Tennessee, and Michigan.

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>>> Toyota unveils sweeping plans for new battery tech, EV innovation


Reuters

By Daniel Leussink

June 13, 2023


https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/toyota-market-next-gen-battery-evs-2026-built-by-new-ev-unit-2023-06-13/


TOKYO, June 13 (Reuters) - Toyota (7203.T) will introduce high-performance, solid-state batteries and other technologies to improve the driving range and cut costs of future electric vehicles (EVs), the automaker said on Tuesday, a strategic pivot that sent its shares higher.

The Japanese giant's technology roadmap, covering aspects as varied as next-generation battery development and a radical redesign of factories, amounted to the automaker's fullest disclosure of its plan to compete in the fast-growing market for EVs where it has lagged rivals led by Tesla (TSLA.O).

The plan comes a day before an annual shareholders meeting where governance and strategy - including a slow pivot to battery EVs under former CEO Akio Toyoda - will be scrutinised.

Shares of the world's best-selling automaker jumped 5% on the day to 2,173 yen, the highest since August.

Toyota said it aims to launch next-generation lithium-ion batteries from 2026 offering longer ranges and quicker charging.

It also trumpeted a "technological breakthrough" that addresses durability problems in solid-state batteries and said it is developing means to mass produce those batteries, targeting commercialisation over 2027-2028.

Solid-state batteries can hold more energy than current liquid electrolyte batteries. Automakers and analysts expect them to speed transition to EVs by addressing a major consumer concern: range.

Still, such batteries are expensive and likely to remain so for years. Toyota will hedge with better-performing lithium iron phosphate batteries, a cheaper alternative to lithium-ion batteries that have spurred EV adoption in China, the world's largest vehicle market.

At the high end of the market, Toyota said it would produce an EV with a more efficient lithium-ion battery offering a range of 1,000 km (621 miles). By comparison, the long-range version of the lithium-ion-powered Tesla Model Y, the world's best-selling EV, can drive for about 530 km based on U.S. standards.

An EV powered by a solid-state battery would have a range of 1,200 km and charging time of just 10 minutes, Toyota said. By comparison, the Tesla Supercharger network - the largest of its kind - offers the equivalent of 321 km of charge in 15 minutes.

Toyota did not detail expected costs or required investment for the plans.

Engineers at the automaker have been considering a reboot of its EV strategy since last year to better compete.

The roadmap detailed on Tuesday showed that under new CEO Koji Sato, Toyota has adopted much of the revamp that engineers and planners have been developing as options for months.

That includes use of electric-axle and other technology from suppliers such as Aisin (7259.T) and Denso (6902.T).

"What we want to achieve is to change the future with BEVs," Takero Kato, president of new Toyota EV unit BEV Factory, said in a video posted on the automaker's YouTube channel on Tuesday.

NEW ASSEMBLY TECHNOLOGY

Toyota said it was developing a dedicated EV platform to reduce the cost of new models and a heavily automated assembly line that would do away with the conveyor belt system that has defined auto production since Henry Ford over 100 years ago.

In Toyota's "self-propelling" assembly line, cars under production would drive themselves through the process.

It also said it would use Giga casting to cut production costs, adopting an innovation pioneered by Tesla using massive, aluminium casting machines to reduce vehicle complexity.

Koji Endo, senior analyst at SBI Securities, said he was surprised by Toyota's move to counter Tesla's lead in production efficiency. "I'm not sure yet Toyota can push back in a counter offensive, but it's getting ready to try," he said.

Toyota's BEV Factory, established in May, aims to produce about 1.7 million vehicles by 2030, Kato said - about half of the 3.5 million EVs Toyota aims to sell annually by that year.

In April, the automaker sold 8,584 EVs worldwide, including under its Lexus brand, accounting for more than 1% of its global sales in a single month for the first time.

Toyota sold almost 10.5 million vehicles in 2022, and has a market value of about $254 billion. By contrast, Tesla sold one-eighth as many vehicles yet is valued at around $791 billion, a premium reflecting investor belief in Tesla's growth potential.

Toyota has long said it wants to offer consumers a choice of new-energy vehicles, including petrol-electric hybrids and hydrogen fuel cells as well as battery EVs, as part of the industry's transition from petrol-powered vehicles.

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>>> Another company with plans to extract lithium in Akansas... Standard Lithium (NYSE: SLI)...

https://www.standardlithium.com/projects/arkansas-smackover

https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=171957314


By applying proprietary modern processing technologies and strategic partnerships Standard Lithium (TSXV.SLI) (NYSE.A:SLI) (FRA: S5L) is poised to bring the first new U.S. based lithium project in over 50+ years into production. The company’s flagship south Arkansas project is the largest and most advanced lithium brine project in the U.S. The 3.94 million tonne lithium carbonate equivalent resource, 175,000-acre project is located in a region of southern Arkansas that is home to North America’s largest brine production and processing facilities.

Standard Lithium is partnered with global specialty chemical company Lanxess AG on the project. The partnership is in the demonstration stage of testing the commercial viability of lithium extraction on a mass scale from brine that is a byproduct of existing bromine production facilities run by Lanxess in southern Arkansas.

Edit: correct symbol is SLI and also trades on the TSX

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>>> Exxon Joins Hunt for Lithium in Bet on EV Boom

Oil giant quietly laid plans this year for producing mineral in Arkansas


WSJ

By Benoît Morenne and Collin Eaton

May 21, 2023


Exxon Mobil is bracing for a future far less dependent on gasoline by drilling for something other than oil: lithium.

The Texas oil giant recently purchased drilling rights to a sizable chunk of Arkansas land from which it aims to produce the mineral, a key ingredient in batteries for electric cars, cellphones and laptops, according to people familiar with the matter.

Lithium is far removed from the fossil-fuel business, which has powered Exxon’s profits for more than a century, and signals the company’s acknowledgment that demand for internal combustion engines could soon peak, the people said. It would also mark a return for the company to an industry it helped pioneer almost 50 years ago.

Exxon bought 120,000 gross acres in the Smackover formation of southern Arkansas from an exploration company called Galvanic Energy, according to some of the people. The price tag was more than $100 million, people familiar with the matter said, a relatively small transaction for a company of Exxon’s size.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/exxon-joins-hunt-for-lithium-in-bet-on-ev-boom-1d72cdd6?mod=hp_lead_pos3

https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=171957170


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>>> US officials remove key obstacle to Thacker Pass lithium project


Reuters

May 16, 2023

By Ernest Scheyder


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-officials-remove-key-obstacle-200433281.html


(Reuters) -The U.S. Interior Department on Tuesday removed one of the last remaining obstacles to Lithium Americas Corp's Thacker Pass mine project in Nevada by finding nearly all of the site contains the metal used to make electric-vehicle batteries.

The opinion from the department's solicitor comes amid an acrimonious debate about whether more U.S. mines should be built to produce lithium and other green energy transition metals.

A federal judge in February rejected claims that the Thacker Pass project would cause unnecessary harm to the environment, but ordered officials to study whether roughly 1,300 acres (530 hectares) at the site where Lithium Americas hopes to store waste rock - a byproduct of the mining process - contained the metal. The ruling is being appealed, although the court has allowed construction to begin.

The judge's order was linked to an unrelated appeals court ruling that found mining companies do not necessarily have the right under U.S. law to store waste rock on federal land that does not contain valuable minerals.

Of the dozens of mining claims at the Thacker Pass site held by the company, the government found fewer than 10 did not contain lithium mineralization, an Interior Department official told Reuters.

"They're going to be able to start construction and production without these claims being in the plan of operation," the official said of Lithium Americas.

The Vancouver, Canada-based company, which is developing the project with General Motors Co, can apply for a right-of-way to use those other claims for non-mining purposes, the official said.

"We're committed to doing this job right and meeting or exceeding state and federal regulations as we advance construction," said Jon Evans, the CEO of Lithium Americas.

John Hadder of Great Basin Resource Watch, a conservation group that has appealed the court's ruling, said it believes federal law allows Lithium Americas access to the land only if lithium is consistently found in quantities that are economical to extract.

"It stands to reason that the mining company would not place millions of tonnes of waste material on an area where they see valuable mineral deposits," said Hadder.

The opinion comes as the Biden administration has taken steps to block other mines, although the official said those should not be taken as a sign of opposition to all extractive projects.

"We're in favor of increasing domestic mineral production when it's being done in the right location and in the right way," the official said.

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Re-post - >>> Deep dive into ALB vs PKX to add downstream processor of Lithium to my holdings. Long story short, beyond the Lithium hydroxide JV with Pilbara, PKX has battery materials processing lines feeding battery manufacturers, proprietary DLE technology, and produces Lithium Carbonate. They also have a host of other divisions that broaden exposure: energy agriculture, and steel production. PKX is extremely well positioned to feed materials to the battery manufacturers in Korea, and across Asia. They are approximately the same MC as ALB. Bottom line both are attractive based on their individual strengths in the respective geographic locals. For the moment PKX looks like the more attractive option due to it's holdings beyond Lithium.


https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=171894251


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>>> Elon Musk and Tesla break ground on massive Texas lithium refinery


Reuters

By Hyunjoo Jin and Ernest Scheyder

5-9-23


https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/elon-musk-and-tesla-break-ground-on-massive-texas-lithium-refinery/ar-AA1aXajb?OCID=ansmsnnews11


(Reuters) -Tesla Inc on Monday broke ground on a Texas lithium refinery that CEO Elon Musk said should produce enough of the battery metal to build about 1 million electric vehicles (EVs) by 2025, making it the largest North American processor of the material.

The facility will push Tesla outside its core focus of building automobiles and into the complex area of lithium refining and processing, a step Musk said was necessary if the auto giant was to meet its ambitious EV sales targets.

"As we look ahead a few years, a fundamental choke point in the advancement of electric vehicles is the availability of battery grade lithium," Musk said at the ground-breaking ceremony on Monday, with dozers and other earth-moving equipment operating in the background.

Musk said Tesla aimed to finish construction of the factory next year and then reach full production about a year later.

The move will make Tesla the only major automaker in North America that will refine its own lithium. Currently, China dominates the processing of many critical minerals, including lithium.

"Texas wants to be able to be self-reliant, not dependent upon any foreign hostile nation for what we need. We need lithium," Texas Governor Greg Abbott said at the ceremony.

Musk did not specify the volume of lithium the facility would process each year, although he said the automaker would continue to buy the metal from its vendors, which include Albemarle Corp and Livent Corp. "We intend to continue to use suppliers of lithium, so it's not that Tesla will do all of it," Musk said. Albemarle plans to build a lithium processing facility in South Carolina that will refine 100,000 tonnes of the metal each year, with construction slated to begin next year and the facility coming online sometime later this decade.

Musk did not say where Tesla will source the rough form of lithium known as spodumene concentrate that will be processed at the facility, although Tesla has supply deals with Piedmont Lithium Inc and others.

'CLEAN OPERATIONS'

Tesla said it would eschew the lithium industry's conventional refining process, which relies on sulfuric acid and other strong chemicals, in favor of materials that were less harsh on the environment, such as soda ash.

"You could live right in the middle of the refinery and not suffer any ill effect. So they're very clean operations," Musk said, although local media reports said some environmental advocates had raised concerns over the facility.

Monday's announcement was not the first time that Tesla has attempted to venture into lithium production. Musk in 2020 told shareholders that Tesla had secured rights to 10,000 acres in Nevada where it aimed to produce lithium from clay deposits, which had never been done before at commercial scale.

While Musk boasted that the company had developed a proprietary process to sustainably produce lithium from those Nevada clay deposits, Tesla has not yet deployed the process.

Musk has urged entrepreneurs to enter the lithium refining business, saying it is like "minting money."

"We're begging you. We don't want to do it. Can someone please?," he said during a conference call last month.

Tesla said last month a recent plunge in prices of lithium and other commodities would aid Tesla's bruised margins in the second half of the year.

The refinery is the latest expansion by Tesla into Texas after the company moved its headquarters there from California in 2021. Musk's other companies, including like SpaceX and The Boring Company, also have operations in Texas.

"We are proud that he calls Texas home," Abbott said, saying Tesla and Musk are "Texas's economic juggernauts."

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Re-posts - >>> Great merger...Allkem and Livent to Create a Leading Global Integrated Lithium Chemicals Producer

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/allkem-livent-create-leading-global-091600195.html

The companies complement each others strengths to create a well positioned company ready to exploit growing Lithium demand. <<<

https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=171876811

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>>> Allkem/Livent Merger Presentation

https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-02664721-2A1448769?access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4

They will be a force in the industry. For me, worth considering additional shares to current position on any price weakness.

Will M&A activity accelerate? This merger ups the bar. Personally, I'd be amenable to Pilbara merging with an integrated miner/chemical processor, that would create another powerful entity.

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https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=171877534

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>>> Canadian group led by Pierre Lassonde plans to buy Teck's coal mines <<<

https://www.mining.com/subscribe-login/?id=1117410


https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=171875530

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>>> Pilbara Minerals Limited (PILBF) explores for, develops, and operates mineral resources in Australia. The company primarily holds a 100% interest in the Pilgangoora lithium-tantalum project located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The company was incorporated in 2005 and is based in West Perth, Australia.

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https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/PILBF/profile?p=PILBF


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>>> Liontown Bids Signal Strong Outlook for Lithium, Rival Says


Bloomberg

by Sybilla Gross and Haidi Lun

May 3, 2023


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/liontown-bids-signal-strong-outlook-234802584.html


Liontown Bids Signal Strong Outlook for Lithium, Rival Says


(Bloomberg) -- The recent flurry of bidding activity for Australian lithium producer Liontown Resources Ltd. reflects broader optimism in the sector, according to one of the country’s top miners of the key electric-vehicle battery metal.

The intense interest in Liontown, which has become an acquisition target after it spurned three bids in five months from the world’s top lithium producer Albemarle Corp., is “a really strong point of evidence” about the outlook, Pilbara Minerals Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Dale Henderson said.

“Full credit to Albemarle who are walking the talk — their CEO has spoke to the necessity for all lithium projects to come online, and here they are voting with their money,” Henderson said in a Bloomberg Television interview broadcast Wednesday. “It just underscores the support for the long-term proposition for lithium.”

The lithium sector is set for further consolidation around longer-term assets, Liontown Chief Executive Officer Tony Ottaviano said in a separate interview, while defending the company’s recent rejection of a multi-billion dollar bid for the business.

“There is a lot of demand for spodumene coming out of China, and then more broadly around the world,” Ottaviano told Bloomberg Television interview Wednesday. With global demand for lithium set to boom, bigger companies that buy longer-term assets will stand to benefit as consolidation starts to emerge, he added.

Liontown in March rejected a A$5.5 billion ($3.7 billion) offer from Albemarle, which is expected to be a key topic of interest at the US miner’s earnings call to shareholders on Thursday in New York. Ottaviano denied local media reports of an ongoing bidding war for his company.

“At the end of the day, there’s a difference of opinion around value and that’s where it sits at the moment,” he said about Albemarle’s offer. “We’ve had no further formal approaches.”

Meanwhile, Pilbara Minerals, one of Australia’s top lithium miners, said earlier this year it will nearly double production by late 2025 to meet soaring demand for the key electric-vehicle battery metal.

READ: Lithium’s Next Big Risk Is Grand Supply Plans Falling Short

The Perth-based miner plans to push ahead with the expansion, despite a recent steep pullback in lithium prices as more supply comes online, Henderson said. The resulting slide in company valuations has helped open the door to potential acquisitions in a sector still dominated by junior and mid-sized players.

“It’s an incredible market and Pilbara looks always to capitalize on that,” he said. “We’re not holding back on our investment.”

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>>> Liontown Resources Limited (LINRF) engages in the exploration, evaluation, and development of mineral properties in Australia. The company explores for lithium, gold, vanadium, copper, and nickel deposits, as well as platinum group elements. Its flagship property is the Kathleen Valley lithium project located in Perth, Western Australia. The company was incorporated in 2006 and is based in West Perth, Australia.

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https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/LINRF/profile?p=LINRF




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Re-post - >>> I have COPJ, TECK, FCX, SCCO, HMY, FQVLF, CPPMF, CSCCF. The trend in the industry is consolidation and expanding existing assets, before opening new mines. I see more mergers and acquisitions in the future. Look at SA....great opportunity in their KSM prospect, but even after pouring millions into development the estimated capex to open the mine is an additional 5-6 billion C$ and a multi-year development timeline. KSM will probably be developed, but acquisitions and mergers are an easier route (today) to boost capacity and profit from increasing demand.

I would selectively add to some positions if prices retrace.

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https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=171826440


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[gfp927z]

Re-posts - Li, Cu, rare earths - >>> If the US is serious about developing domestic sources Rhyolite Ridge and Thacker Pass are critically important, based on their nearly complete permitting process. To my knowledge there aren't any other Lithium projects in the US at the scale of these and at the end of permitting. ALB's King Mountain project is in the permitting stage, and PLL's open pit mine in NC is up against substantial opposition with no end in sight. The Salton Sea offers a tantalizing opportunity, but the technology hurdles seem to be substantial putting any commercial mining into the future. Bottom line, we need Rhyolite Ridge and Thacker Pass.

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https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=171817166


>>> Not at the present. Held BYD for a few years but sold my shares last year. Like the company but not the dicey politicking between nations. Concentrating on miners these last two years, Lithium, Copper and RE's (rare earths). Have stayed away from battery shares with the exception of owning BYD. I like BYD, I think they are the winning horse in the EV race and would own them again if politics weren't involved. Miners in Australia, Canada, and the USA look like long term winners in the new energy environment, a lot of consolidation ahead.

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https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=171804479


>>> New Ioneer Mineral Resource update finds 168% increase in estimated lithium at Rhyolite Ridge

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005886/en/New-Ioneer-Mineral-Resource-update-finds-168-increase-in-estimated-lithium-at-Rhyolite-Ridge

Assuming Ioneer receives the fianl permits required to proceed, Rhyolite Ridge is a game changer for the USA drive to develop domestic mineral sources.

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https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=171802827


>>> FWIW.....rumors are ???? Allkem share price pops amid Rio Tinto takeover rumours

https://www.fool.com.au/2023/04/27/allkem-share-price-pops-amid-rio-tinto-takeover-rumours/

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https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=171803222


>>>

https://www.dallasfed.org/research/economics/2022/1011

By my count there are 15 announced plans for battery production facilities to be built in the USA. All of them are Li-ion based. Ford has announced their intention to also build NMC battery production lines. I haven't followed the mid-stream announcements as closely, but many nations and miners are moving upstream to produce Lithium Hydroxide. ALB is committed to building a Plant in S. Carolina. CATL and BYD are introducing a mixed sodium Li-ion battery for low end EV's. Should be interesting to see how far they take the technology.

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https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=171803303


>>>

individual stocks MP and ARAFF at present.

I owned Lynas in the past. MP is well positioned to execute on their expansion plans in progress, patience will be rewarded.


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https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=171808180


>>>

Tesla has said they aren't interested in miners, they want more Lithium Hydroxide facilities. SGML is years behind Pilbara in production capacity. In my opinion, fully priced at this point. I'm focusing on copper miners now. Copper mines are capex intensive hence the M&A activity with more to come, and most of the working mines are at or reaching peak production. In the long run, copper will probably be a bigger issue than Lithium.

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https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=171822336





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>>> Ioneer Ltd (IONR) explores for and develops mineral properties in North America. Its flagship property is the Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron project located in the state of Nevada, the United States. The company was formerly known as Global Geoscience Limited and changed its name to ioneer Ltd in November 2018. ioneer Ltd was incorporated in 2001 and is based in North Sydney, Australia.


>>> New Ioneer Mineral Resource update finds 168% increase in estimated lithium at Rhyolite Ridge

Ioneer project to meet rising demand for U.S. electric vehicle components while creating dedicated space to protect biological diversity


BusinessWire

April 26, 2023


https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005886/en/New-Ioneer-Mineral-Resource-update-finds-168-increase-in-estimated-lithium-at-Rhyolite-Ridge


RENO, Nev.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today Ioneer Ltd (ASX: INR, NASDAQ: IONR) released new findings showing a 168% increase of lithium within its Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron project. The Nevada site is now estimated to hold enough lithium carbonate, a critical material in electric vehicle battery production, to power upward of 50 million electric vehicles with further expansion potential pending additional exploration.

In the coming years, U.S. demand for lithium is expected to soar to keep pace with projected demand for EVs. The updated estimate underscores Rhoylite Ridge’s potential in strengthening U.S. supply chains and securing a domestic and environmentally sustainable source of lithium and boron. Because its world-class processing facility will be on-site at Rhyolite Ridge, Ioneer can more quickly produce and efficiently deliver lithium to U.S. battery manufacturers. The innovative process eliminates the need to transfer the material to a separate plant for refining and will allow Ioneer to maximize the lithium’s full potency.

“Rhyolite Ridge is a once in a generation opportunity to produce a critical and reliable source of lithium and boron for the U.S. electric vehicle supply chain. Our best-in-class operations will provide desperately needed domestic materials, create jobs and reduce emissions,” said James Calaway, the executive chairman of Ioneer. “We look forward to completing the important federal permitting process and getting to work.”

“Today’s Mineral Resource Update demonstrates Ioneer’s unique ability to supply secure and strategic materials for electric vehicle battery manufacturers,” said Bernard Rowe, the managing director of Ioneer. “These new findings demonstrate how Ioneer can help the United States sustainably source lithium and boron while combatting climate change. Ioneer looks forward to finalizing the remaining federal requirements and commencing our operations.”

Once federal permitting and construction is complete, Rhyolite Ridge is expected to quadruple current U.S. lithium chemical output. The updated report, conducted by WSP USA Inc, (formerly Golder Associates USA Inc.), now estimates Rhyolite Ridge’s Mineral Resource deposit at 360.0 million tonnes – containing 3.4 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent and 14.1 million tonnes of boric acid equivalent. That reflects a 168% increase in lithium carbonate and 18% increase in boric acid (collectively a 145% increase in mineralized resource) from an April 2020 Ioneer Mineral Resource statement. It also builds on the company's Definitive Feasibility Study, which confirmed Rhyolite Ridge as a world-class lithium and boron project that is expected to become a globally significant, long-life, low-cost source of lithium and boron.

The Department of Energy’s Loan Program Office previously estimated that Rhyolite Ridge could reduce annual domestic gas consumption by nearly 145 million gallons and prevent the release of 1.29 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year from gas cars. The DOE estimates relied upon the April 2020 findings, and the revised estimates are expected to push those environmental benefits higher.

Today’s resource estimate strengthens the mine plan being permitted by Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that avoids all Tiehm’s buckwheat, a plant classified as an endangered species by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Ioneer has also made revisions to include measures to minimize and mitigate for potential indirect impacts within the designated critical habitat areas identified. Prior to its formal federal protection, Ioneer contributed more than $1 million to ensure the plant’s long-term growth and success and has budgeted an additional $1 million annually to protect the species.

The Project’s Mine Plan of Operations, submitted to the BLM in July 2022, is currently under NEPA review.

<<<

From Dew's board - >>> New Ioneer Mineral Resource update finds 168% increase in estimated lithium at Rhyolite Ridge

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230426005886/en/New-Ioneer-Mineral-Resource-update-finds-168-increase-in-estimated-lithium-at-Rhyolite-Ridge

Assuming Ioneer receives the fianl permits required to proceed, Rhyolite Ridge is a game changer for the USA drive to develop domestic mineral sources.


https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=171802827


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