Altech Batteries Ltd earlier this week told investors its CERENERGY® solid-state sodium chloride batteries have passed individual cell testing, conducted by Fraunhofer, a German government-backed R&D institute and the company’s joint venture partner.
Highlights
- Altech Batteries' CERENERGY® solid-state sodium chloride batteries passed individual cell testing.
- Tests were conducted by Fraunhofer, a German government R&D institute and Altech’s joint venture partner.
- Testing confirmed strong thermal, charging, and discharging performance.
- CERENERGY® cannot catch fire or explode — a key safety advantage over lithium-ion batteries.
- Martin Stein highlighted safety as critical for data centres, military uses, and AI-driven infrastructure.
- Altech is progressing plans for a 120 megawatt-hour production plant in Germany.
- The battery uses sodium chloride, not lithium, cobalt, or graphite, removing dependency on sensitive supply chains.
- Target markets include grid utilities and data centres requiring reliable, safe battery storage.
- Strong interest was shown at the recent Hanover trade fair, particularly on safety credentials.
Robust battery cells
Altech said the test program covered thermal performance, charging and discharging cycles, and confirmed the robustness of the battery cells. CFO Martin Stein said results were “better than expected”, and added that it provided further assurance of product quality for both Altech and potential backers.
CERENERGY® uses solid-state sodium chloride chemistry, which the company highlighted cannot catch fire or explode — a feature it says is a key differentiator from conventional lithium-ion batteries. Altech pointed to use cases like data centres and military applications, where fire safety is a critical requirement.
The company referenced a recent incident in California where lithium-ion batteries caught fire at a large-scale installation. It said such events underline the need for safer alternatives in the renewable energy transition.
Altech is currently seeking to raise finance for a planned 120 megawatt-hour production facility in Germany. It said the positive test data will assist investor discussions by validating the battery’s safety and technical performance.
The company also emphasised the strategic benefits of its raw material selection. CERENERGY® is produced using sodium chloride — common table salt — and avoids reliance on lithium, cobalt, manganese, graphite, or copper. It argued this shields the product from volatility in global supply chains, especially those tied to China. Stein noted recent tariffs between the US and China, and questioned the sustainability of current raw material dependencies.
Target markets
Target markets for CERENERGY® include grid utilities transitioning from fossil fuels to renewables, and data centres anticipating growing energy demands from AI deployment. Altech said both sectors have shown interest in safer battery solutions.
The company recently showcased CERENERGY® at the Hanover Messe, which it described as the world’s largest industrial fair. It reported strong engagement at the event, particularly around the safety aspects of the technology.
Read more: Altech confirms CERENERGY® batteries maintain safety and performance under extreme conditions