Volt Resources Ltd (ASX:VRC) is implementing plans to become a battery materials producer in Europe and the United States based on an integrated supply chain using flake graphite from its mine and processing plant in Ukraine and the development-ready Bunyu Graphite Project in Tanzania.
The company is developing battery materials businesses in the US and Europe for the following key battery technologies:
- Lithium-ion battery (LIB): coated spheroinised purified graphite (CSPG)
- Alkaline battery:graphite coatings and electrode additives; and
- Lead-acid battery: graphite expander additive for negative electrode
Volt’s proprietary battery anode material process flowsheet enables high yields of about 74% purified spheroidal graphite to be produced from graphite feedstock.
Looking ahead, the high-value products produced from the graphite feedstock will optimise the economics of Volt’s planned battery anode material (BAM) facilities in the US and Europe.
“Expanding demand”
Volt managing director Trevor Matthews said: “Volt has made clear progress with the strategy to become a battery materials producer in the United States and Europe.
“The collaboration and product test-work programs are being undertaken to deliver graphite-based battery materials products into markets with expanding demand for energy storage and electric mobility.
“With graphite prices increasing significantly over the past 12 months and growing demand for locally produced battery anode material in both the United States and Europe, Volt is positioned to be a key supplier in energy materials.”
Collaborations
Volt had entered into a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with Urban Electric Power (UEP) targeting improvements in alkaline battery performance while benefitting the end-user - consumers of UEP’s alkaline battery technologies - by offering a more attractive cost structure than the currently available industry solutions on the market.
The company also has a collaboration with Apollo Energy Systems to test lead-acid batteries containing Volt’s graphite.
Additionally, Energy Supply Developers (ESD) has selected Volt to be the coated spheroinised purified graphite (CSPG) supplier for its Gigafactory/SuperSite that is expected to begin operations in 2025.
The SuperSite facilities will be developed by ESD to incorporate battery materials suppliers, LIB cell manufacturer(s), R & D facilities and associated utilities and infrastructure
Furthermore, proprietary battery anode material process flowsheet developed by technology partner, American Energy Technologies Company, enables very high yields of 74% purified spheroidal graphite produced from graphite feed for CSPG production.
Ultra-high purity graphite
The non-spherical ultra-high purity graphite (UHPG) is a by-product of the spheroidization of purified graphite when producing LIB anode material.
Volt will reap the benefits from the inverted flowsheet to produce not only spherical purified graphite for lithium-ion batteries but also higher-margin UHPG that can be used in applications such as conductivity enhancement and other specialty uses