Energy storage

Reliance Industries said its solar unit will buy UK-based sodium-ion battery technology provider Faradion for GBP100 million (US$135 million) including debt, as the Indian conglomerate pushes forward with its ambitious plan to move into the renewable energy industry.

The lead-acid battery major, which is into lithium battery assembly in a joint venture with Swiss firm Leclanche, will set up a multi-gigawatt lithium-ion cell manufacturing plant as it strives to become more cost-competitive and better serve its customers.

Nexcharge, a joint venture of India’s largest lead-acid storage battery manufacturer, Exide Industries Limited, and Swiss Lithium-ion battery manufacturer Leclanché, has fully automated assembly lines of li-ion battery packs, modules, and cell testing labs in Gujarat. Ketan Chitnis, vice president-stationary BU, tells pv magazine the government’s PLI Scheme is a major incentive for attracting investment into Li-ion cell manufacturing.

The Mumbai-headquartered natural resources company has acquired Goa-based Nicomet, a producer of cobalt, nickel, and their derivates in India, as it looks to capitalize on the electric vehicles and energy storage boom.

The Ahmedabad-based technology startup has committed to funding INR 1,500 crore in electric vehicles and energy storage over the next five years in the state.

The pre-bid conference for the 50 GWh battery storage tender under the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme saw the participation of around 20 prospective bidders. The conference was organized by India’s ministry of heavy industries to discuss and address the bidders’ queries.

Noida-headquartered Lohum plans to expand its integrated lithium-ion battery manufacturing and recycling facility in India to 3 GWh and expand into the US with its first facility. Co-founder Justin Lemmon speaks to pv magazine about how their operations in India will solve the battery supply chain and cost challenge for the nation’s electric mobility and renewable energy ambitions.

The electrical contacts manufacturer will join hands with battery storage firm RENERA and EV charger manufacturer L-Charge for its business expansion into these segments.

Global bids are invited to set up giga-scale advanced-chemistry battery cell manufacturing units in India under the government’s production-linked incentive scheme. To be eligible for the government subsidy, the bidder would have to commit to setting up a minimum of 5 GWh capacity. Bidding is open until December 31.

A report from Australia’s Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre which analysed the development of battery hubs in the U.S., Germany and Japan, has found that co-location and cooperation between industry and government were key to their success. For Australia to play the same game, it will have to leverage its wealth of resources, and clean up its act along the way.