Join our daily newsletter At The Bell to receive exclusive market insights
- Altech Batteries (ATC) provides an update on the progress of its Silumina Anodes pilot plant in Saxony, Germany, nearly one year on from the construction start
- The company has procured a more detailed engineering design for its on-site kilns that its in-house tech requires for the manufacture
- The requisite kiln units are now lighter and more modular with assembly and installation on-site made easier from a logistical point of view
- Altech’s German partner ARIKON GmbH is progressing engagements with regional authorities for permitting that are going favourably
- ATC shares last traded at 6.7 cents
Altech Batteries (ATC) has announced the latest update for its pilot battery plant in Saxony, Germany, the Silumina Anodes plant.
The company highlighted that permitting discussions with regional authorities were underway, as well as the procurement of a new front-end design.
Altech has received final quotes from suppliers, and the infrastructure design of the plant is currently in progress, with construction starting in September last year.
German company ARIKON Infrastruktur GmbH is responsible for engaging with regional authorities to initiate the permitting process for the project, with Altech reporting favourable cooperation and support thus far.
The company’s Silumina Anodes technology aims to disrupt the dominant lithium-ion supply chain battery by producing technology that can ensure batteries retain a superior recharge cycle ceiling.
The company’s pilot plant, designed to produce 10,000 tonnes per annum of feedstock for Silumina Anodes manufacturing, is on track for its scheduled completion, as is the definitive feasibility study (DFS) underpinning it.
Notably, the company has procured a more streamlined front-end engineering design for the calciners on-site, essentially large kilns, as second iterations provided a more comprehensive technical overview.
These calciners, operating at 600 degrees Celsius, are crucial for converting aluminium chloride present on the surface of graphite and silicon particles into alumina—a coating process developed in-house by Altech.
One standout feature of the calciners to be established at the pilot plant includes silicon carbide linings within each kiln to mitigate the acidic effects of the calcination process.
The updated calciner design specifications will be used by Altech in its DFS for the Saxony-based pilot plant. The changes result in lighter calciners per unit, making them easier to assemble and install on-site.
Consequently, the company has initiated discussions with potential manufacturers for the calciners and the overall plant. Additionally, it is corresponding with European vendors of silicon carbide, particularly those close to the earmarked plant site.
Altech notes its in-house approach is at the upper technical end of emerging industrial processes and that the latest developments in silicon carbide technology are required – a process requiring the contribution of Altech, designers in Australia, manufacturers in Germany, and “specialist dryer technology vendors.”
Altech shares last traded at 6.7 cents.
