Developing batteries for energy storage – now Enerpoly wants to scale up

Can the technology used in standard AA batteries be used for stationary energy storage? Enerpoly believes it can. A PhD thesis on rechargeable batteries by co-founder and CTO Mylad Chamoun was the starting point. The development of the chemistry has significantly extended the life and improved the performance of zinc-ion batteries, which have traditionally had a limited capacity.

Samer Nameer, co-founder and sustainability manager at Enerpoly, describes the company's battery:

"It is designed to be cost-effective and has safety features that reduce the risk of thermal runaway. From a sustainability perspective, the battery also has a lower carbon footprint compared to some lithium-ion batteries, according to our calculations," he says, continuing:

"We also have a fully European value chain for both raw materials and manufacturing equipment, which we believe is important for the region's energy transition."

Scaling up with a scientific approach

Enerpoly started working with RISE in Borås when the company needed a laboratory test to confirm that its zinc-ion battery cells did not suffer from thermal runaway. After a successful test, the team in Borås pointed out the process expertise available at RISE. Could Enerpoly benefit from this?

"We realised that we would need RISE's help with a scale-up project. It is not easy to scale up production, regardless of the type of chemical industry, so we wanted to work with the research team at RISE to investigate and minimise the challenges of scaling up zinc-ion batteries," says Samer Nameer.

By conducting experiments and tests together with RISE, it is possible to determine what works and what doesn't, and Enerpoly avoids going down paths that don't lead to commercialisation. By adopting a scientific approach from the outset, problems that may arise later can be reduced as early as possible.

"A perfect match from day one"

Juhanes Aydin, Head of Advanced Materials and Binders at RISE, describes his first meeting with Enerpoly:

"It was a perfect match from day one. I put them in touch with a senior scientist at our company who immediately understood their needs and was able to propose an approach for further collaboration the same day. Part of this was about chemistry and analysis related to the manufacturing process, and the other part was about other aspects of scaling up, such as funding opportunities. Our SME support has been able to guide Enerpoly in these areas," says Juhanes Aydin.

Recycling rate to be tested

As there is already a well-established infrastructure for recycling standard zinc-ion batteries, Enerpoly is confident that its batteries will also be recyclable. But they will need to investigate how and to what extent, and this is where Samer Nameer sees RISE being involved again. Certification of the batteries will also be an issue in the future.

In the autumn of 2024, the company moved to new premises in Rosersberg, Stockholm, from where the first deliveries of battery cells will be made in the second half of 2025. The work continues - still with a scientific approach.

"Knowledge makes us stronger and more resilient. It gives us an advantage over other players who have to start from scratch and play catch-up when they start using zinc-ion batteries," says Samer Nameer.