Altech Chemicals Ltd (ASX:ATC)’s proposed battery materials coating plant at the Schwarze Pumpe Industrial Park in Saxony, Germany, has been assessed as “green” by the independent Centre of International Climate and Environmental Research (CICERO) in Norway.
This assessment is part of the preliminary feasibility study (PFS) being undertaken by its 75%-owned German subsidiary Altech Industries Germany GmbH (AIG) and ensures that it is now suitable for future green bond financing.
The plant is being designed with a specific focus on minimising environmental impact, and in accordance with prevailing German, European and International environmental standards.
PFS continues to progress
Altech managing director Iggy Tan said: “CICERO’s independent assessment of AIG’s proposed battery materials coating plant and its suitability for possible future green bond financing, is an important inclusion for the current preliminary feasibility study – and it certainly adds credibility to this proposed project.
“The PFS continues to progress, and Altech anticipates that the results will be available to it during the first quarter of 2022.”
'Medium green' rating
In determining the overall project framework rating of 'Medium Green', CICERO assessed the proposed governance procedures and transparency as 'Good' and confirmed that the project aligns with all green bond principles.
In assessing the proposed plant design and coating process, CICERO noted: “The plant has near-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions as the plant’s processes, including steam generation, are fully electrified, and it will use renewable electricity sourced from on-site solar panels and renewable energy certificates.”
Although CICERO acknowledges the project is still in the development phase, in assessing governance and transparency considerations, it has encouraged Altech “to implement and enforce a robust supply chain sustainability policy, as well as to engage with its suppliers to address their sustainability impacts”, given that >90% of the plant carbon footprint is attributable to plant feedstock such as graphite and silicon.
A carbon dioxide footprint assessment of the proposed 10,000 tonnes per annum plant determined that, when compared to the incumbent lithium-ion battery technology that uses graphite-only anode, coated silicon anode material could result in a carbon dioxide emissions reduction of ~19% where 5% coated silicon is used in a battery anode, and a reduction of up to ~ 52% if 20% coated silicon was used.