https://currentcells.com/ Infrastructure journalism covering the battery industry and the electrification revolution. en-us Fri, 29 May 2026 18:03:25 GMT https://currentcells.com/og-image.png https://currentcells.com/ Weekly battery materials spot prices, updated every Monday. Covers lithium carbonate (CNY + USD), cobalt, nickel, manganese sulfate, and natural graphite with week-over-week changes, full price history, and a chemistry cost sensitivity calculator for $/kWh scenario modeling. https://currentcells.com/article/battery-materials-price-index Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT Price Index Price IndexLithiumCobaltNickelManganeseGraphiteCommoditiesMarket Data currentcells-article-battery-materials-price-index Sodium-ion batteries hit commercial scale in early 2026. CATL's Naxtra entered mass production in January, the world's first sodium-ion passenger EV (Changan Nevo A06) launches mid-year, BYD announced 10,000-cycle third-gen cells, HiNa Battery commissioned a 100 MWh grid project with Datang Group, and Dutch startup Moonwatt launched Europe's first commercial sodium-ion storage system. Natron Energy, once a leading US player, closed in September 2025. The chemistry is no longer hypothetical. https://currentcells.com/article/sodium-ion-batteries-how-they-work Sun, 17 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT knowledge Sodium-ionChemistryCost per kWhGrid StorageCATLBYDNaxtraEV BatteriesCommercial Production currentcells-article-sodium-ion-batteries-how-they-work Google, Xcel Energy, and Form Energy announced a 300 MW / 30 GWh iron-air battery installation at a data center in Pine Island, Minnesota. The project uses Form Energy's 100-hour discharge technology to provide multi-day storage backup for renewable-heavy grids. Despite round-trip efficiency concerns (40-50% vs. 85-90% for lithium-ion), the project's backers argue iron-air's low material costs and multi-day capability fill a gap lithium-ion cannot. Google has pledged to cover all infrastructure costs, shielding ratepayers. https://currentcells.com/article/google-form-energy-30gwh-iron-air-battery-minnesota Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT Grid Storage Iron-AirForm EnergyGoogleXcel EnergyLDESGrid StorageMulti-Day StorageData CentersMinnesota currentcells-article-google-form-energy-30gwh-iron-air-battery-minnesota A wave of contradictory signals is reshaping the global battery manufacturing map. Canada celebrates its first commercial-scale EV battery plant hitting one million cells, while European gigafactory plans collapse and automakers reconsider billion-dollar joint ventures. https://currentcells.com/article/gigafactory-shakeout-2026-who-builds-who-stalls Tue, 21 Apr 2026 08:10:37 GMT Gigafactories GigafactoriesManufacturingNextStar EnergyACCStellantisLG Energy SolutionProLogiumSolid-stateLFPEV Batteries currentcells-article-gigafactory-shakeout-2026-who-builds-who-stalls RWE has received full operational approval for the Limondale BESS, a 50 MW, 400 MWh lithium-ion storage project beside its New South Wales solar farm. The project uses 144 Tesla Megapacks and was built under the state long-duration storage procurement framework. https://currentcells.com/article/rwe-limondale-australia-first-8-hour-bess-2026 Fri, 29 May 2026 00:07:48 GMT Grid Storage RWELimondaleAustraliaNew South WalesBESSLong Duration StorageTesla MegapackGrid Storage currentcells-article-rwe-limondale-australia-first-8-hour-bess-2026 Sumitomo Corporation, through Summit Transition Partners, is investing in multiple Gresham House UK battery storage projects totaling about 694 MW. The deal highlights the shift from single BESS projects toward portfolio-scale storage infrastructure backed by trading and optimization expertise. https://currentcells.com/article/sumitomo-gresham-house-694mw-uk-bess-portfolio-2026 Thu, 28 May 2026 00:05:53 GMT Grid Storage SumitomoGresham HouseUKBESSGrid StorageRenewablesEnergy StorageInfrastructure currentcells-article-sumitomo-gresham-house-694mw-uk-bess-portfolio-2026 SK On was spun out of SK Innovation in 2021 but builds on decades of battery work. Its U.S. factories, Hyundai and Ford relationships, high-nickel EV cells, and 7.2 GWh Flatiron storage agreement make it a key test of non-Chinese battery supply. https://currentcells.com/article/sk-on-company-profile Wed, 27 May 2026 01:22:59 GMT Companies SK OnSK InnovationEV batteriesLFPBESSHyundaiFordcompanies currentcells-article-sk-on-company-profile Adani Green Energy has commissioned 3.37 GWh of battery storage at Khavda, Gujarat, giving India a grid-scale storage landmark and a test case for renewable power that can serve evening peaks. https://currentcells.com/article/adani-khavda-337gwh-bess-2026 Wed, 27 May 2026 00:06:33 GMT Grid Storage Adani Green EnergyKhavdaIndiaGujaratGrid StorageBESSRenewable EnergyLithium-Ion Batteries currentcells-article-adani-khavda-337gwh-bess-2026 Battery separators are porous membranes between anode and cathode. This explainer covers PE, PP, shutdown behavior, ceramic coatings, dendrites, fast charging, manufacturing quality, and why separators matter for safer cells. https://currentcells.com/article/battery-separators-explained Tue, 26 May 2026 01:35:47 GMT Battery Chemistry battery separatorslithium-ion batteriesceramic coatingsdendritespolyethylenepolypropylenebattery safetyfast charging currentcells-article-battery-separators-explained Napanee BESS has started commercial operations in Ontario, giving Canada a 1 GWh grid battery built through the province's LT1 procurement and a live test case for local supply chains, nuclear charging, and longer-duration expansion. https://currentcells.com/article/napanee-ontario-1gwh-bess-commercial-operations-2026 Tue, 26 May 2026 00:06:15 GMT Grid Storage Napanee BESSOntarioAmerescoAtura PowerCanadaGrid StorageLT1LT2Battery Energy Storage currentcells-article-napanee-ontario-1gwh-bess-commercial-operations-2026 Spanish battery developer Basquevolt introduced its BQV400L lithium-metal cell, a fourth-generation design using an NMC cathode, lithium-metal anode, and hybrid polymer electrolyte. The company says the cell is commercially available and designed for existing gigafactory infrastructure. https://currentcells.com/article/basquevolt-bqv400l-lithium-metal-cell-2026 Mon, 25 May 2026 00:10:02 GMT EV Batteries BasquevoltBQV400LLithium-MetalSolid-State BatteriesRenaultAmpereEV BatteriesSpain currentcells-article-basquevolt-bqv400l-lithium-metal-cell-2026 Sungrow has signed a 7.5 GWh storage agreement with Masdar for Abu Dhabi's round-the-clock renewable power project. The broader Masdar and EWEC project combines 5.2 GW of solar PV with 19 GWh of batteries to deliver roughly 1 GW of continuous clean power, creating a major test case for solar-plus-storage as scheduled clean capacity. https://currentcells.com/article/sungrow-masdar-75gwh-abu-dhabi-rtc-storage-2026 Sun, 24 May 2026 00:05:56 GMT Grid Storage SungrowMasdarEWECPowerTitan 3.0BESSSolar Plus StorageAbu DhabiGrid StorageData Centers currentcells-article-sungrow-masdar-75gwh-abu-dhabi-rtc-storage-2026 Antora and POET are commissioning Project Big Stone, a 5 GWh thermal energy storage system at POET Big Stone City. The system uses more than 200 thermal batteries, stores electricity as heat in carbon blocks, and delivers 50 MW of round-the-clock industrial energy. https://currentcells.com/article/antora-poet-5gwh-thermal-battery-south-dakota-2026 Sat, 23 May 2026 00:03:11 GMT Grid Storage Antora EnergyPOETThermal BatteriesLong-Duration StorageIndustrial HeatSouth DakotaBiofuelsGrid Storage currentcells-article-antora-poet-5gwh-thermal-battery-south-dakota-2026 The SEIA/Benchmark Q1 2026 report reveals US battery storage hit 57.6 GWh in 2025, a 30% increase. Texas is projected to overtake California in 2026 as the largest storage market. Meanwhile, Spain's FRV announced a 1.2 GW/5 GWh BESS portfolio following the Iberian blackout and Royal Decree 997/2025. https://currentcells.com/article/texas-overtakes-california-battery-storage-us-record-2025 Fri, 22 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT news Grid StorageBESSTexasSEIALFPManufacturingSpainFRVPolicy & Markets currentcells-article-texas-overtakes-california-battery-storage-us-record-2025 FlexBase selected Invinity to design a GWh-scale vanadium flow battery for Technology Centre Laufenburg in Switzerland, giving Europe a serious test of flow batteries for AI data center power and grid stability. https://currentcells.com/article/invinity-flexbase-21gwh-flow-battery-switzerland-2026 Fri, 22 May 2026 00:09:47 GMT Grid Storage Invinity Energy SystemsFlexBaseVanadium Flow BatterySwitzerlandAI Data CentersLong Duration StorageGrid StorageLaufenburg currentcells-article-invinity-flexbase-21gwh-flow-battery-switzerland-2026 A planned 500 MW, 2 GWh battery near Baden-Baden gives Germany another large four-hour storage proposal and highlights the shift toward grid-adjacent projects, tolling contracts, and bankable standalone BESS development. https://currentcells.com/article/copenhagen-akaysha-2gwh-germany-battery-2026 Thu, 21 May 2026 00:10:09 GMT Grid Storage Akaysha EnergyCopenhagen EnergyGermanyBESSGrid StorageTollingFour-Hour StorageBaden-Wuerttemberg currentcells-article-copenhagen-akaysha-2gwh-germany-battery-2026 A practical explainer on dry electrode manufacturing, how it differs from wet slurry coating, why Tesla and suppliers care, and what has to work at scale. https://currentcells.com/article/dry-electrode-manufacturing-explained Tue, 19 May 2026 01:37:11 GMT Manufacturing dry electrodebattery manufacturing4680NMPgigafactory currentcells-article-dry-electrode-manufacturing-explained Australia's Cheaper Home Batteries Program has pushed residential storage past 400,000 installations and 11.2 GWh, raising a new question for grid planners: how much distributed capacity can be coordinated like infrastructure? https://currentcells.com/article/australia-home-battery-400000-11gwh-2026 Tue, 19 May 2026 00:08:16 GMT Grid Storage AustraliaHome BatteriesResidential StorageCheaper Home Batteries ProgramVirtual Power PlantsGrid StorageRooftop Solar currentcells-article-australia-home-battery-400000-11gwh-2026 Akuo is developing the SantasBAT battery in Borba, Portugal, pairing 220 MWh of storage with an existing 181 MW solar plant as the country pushes toward 85 percent renewable electricity by 2030. https://currentcells.com/article/akuo-portugal-santasbat-solar-storage-2026 Mon, 18 May 2026 00:04:56 GMT Grid Storage AkuoPortugalSantasBATBESSSolar Plus StorageGrid StorageEU Recovery Fund currentcells-article-akuo-portugal-santasbat-solar-storage-2026 Pakistan imported 26,000 MW of solar panels from 2022 through 2024, and lithium-ion battery imports could reach 2.5 GWh to 3 GWh in 2025. Industry groups argue that lowering cell taxes could make storage cheaper and give local battery pack assembly a chance to scale. https://currentcells.com/article/pakistan-lithium-cell-tax-local-assembly-2026 Sun, 17 May 2026 00:03:54 GMT Policy & Markets PakistanLithium-Ion BatteriesSolar StorageBattery AssemblyPolicyEnergy Storage currentcells-article-pakistan-lithium-cell-tax-local-assembly-2026 Form Energy's 12 GWh Crusoe deal now sits beside a 300 MW, 30 GWh Google-Xcel project in Minnesota. The next question is factory execution: first modules for the Minnesota battery are expected by the end of 2028 as Weirton ramps beyond pilot-scale output. https://currentcells.com/article/form-energy-crusoe-iron-air-ai-datacenter-12gwh-2026 Sat, 16 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT Grid Storage Iron-AirForm EnergyCrusoeAI Data CentersLong-Duration StorageGrid StorageMichiganBESSMulti-Day Storage currentcells-article-form-energy-crusoe-iron-air-ai-datacenter-12gwh-2026 Iberdrola Australia filed the proposed Burrenbring BESS under the EPBC Act. The 1,000 MW project near Nebo, Queensland would use LFP battery units, connect underground to Powerlink Queensland’s Nebo Substation, and offer 2 to 4 hours of storage duration. https://currentcells.com/article/iberdrola-burrenbring-queensland-1gw-bess-epbc-2026 Sat, 16 May 2026 00:04:33 GMT Grid Storage Iberdrola AustraliaBurrenbring BESSQueenslandLFP batteriesgrid storageEPBC ActPowerlink Queensland currentcells-article-iberdrola-burrenbring-queensland-1gw-bess-epbc-2026 Updated May 15 with BYD's volume rollout: the third-generation Yuan Plus gets Blade Battery 2.0 and Flash Charging with 57.545 kWh and 68.547 kWh packs, while Song Ultra pre-orders test demand below the luxury tier. https://currentcells.com/article/byd-blade-battery-2-lmfp-flash-charging-2026 Fri, 15 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT EV Batteries LMFPLFPBYDBlade BatteryEV BatteriesFast ChargingCATLChemistryManufacturing currentcells-article-byd-blade-battery-2-lmfp-flash-charging-2026 Gotion Inc. and Richardson Electronics announced an Illinois technology partnership for U.S.-made BESS products, including a 760 kWh commercial and industrial system and a 5 MWh utility-scale platform. The deal highlights both domestic storage demand and the policy tension around Chinese-linked battery technology under FEOC rules. https://currentcells.com/article/gotion-richardson-illinois-bess-feoc-2026 Fri, 15 May 2026 00:04:37 GMT Manufacturing GotionRichardson ElectronicsBESSIllinoisFEOCGrid StorageManufacturingLFPC&I Storage currentcells-article-gotion-richardson-illinois-bess-feoc-2026 CATL entered May with a stronger 2026 story: Q1 revenue rose 52.45%, net profit rose 48.52%, and its sodium-ion strategy moved from product launch to major storage orders and planned capacity expansion. https://currentcells.com/article/catl-company-profile-2025 Thu, 14 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT company CATLLFPNMCSodium-ionManufacturingCompany News currentcells-article-catl-company-profile-2025 Spearmint Energy added two 100 MW / 200 MWh standalone batteries in ERCOT, and Clearway commissioned the 320 MW / 1,280 MWh Honeycomb Energy Center in Utah. The projects show how U.S. grid storage is scaling through both merchant and contracted models. https://currentcells.com/article/spearmint-clearway-bess-texas-utah-2026 Thu, 14 May 2026 00:04:29 GMT Grid Storage Spearmint EnergyClearway EnergyERCOTTexasUtahBESSGrid StorageSungrowTesla MegapackPacifiCorp currentcells-article-spearmint-clearway-bess-texas-utah-2026 A company profile of Group14 Technologies, covering its 2015 founding, SCC55 silicon-carbon anode material, Porsche and SK backing, $1.1 billion-plus funding, South Korea and Washington production, customers, risks, and battery-market role. https://currentcells.com/article/group14-technologies-company-profile Wed, 13 May 2026 01:17:00 GMT Materials Group14 Technologiessilicon anodeSCC55battery materialsPorscheSKcompany profile currentcells-article-group14-technologies-company-profile Ford Energy will manufacture U.S.-assembled LFP battery energy storage systems for utilities, data centers, and industrial customers. Its DC Block product uses 512 Ah LFP prismatic cells in two-hour and four-hour configurations, with first deliveries planned for late 2027. https://currentcells.com/article/ford-energy-bess-kentucky-grid-storage-2026 Wed, 13 May 2026 00:05:26 GMT Manufacturing Ford EnergyFordBESSLFPGrid StorageManufacturingData CentersKentuckyDomestic Content currentcells-article-ford-energy-bess-kentucky-grid-storage-2026 Qcells and Jabil are assembling Q.HOME CORE G3 home batteries in Michigan, adding a domestic-content-eligible residential storage product to Qcells' U.S. solar, inverter, financing, and installer ecosystem. https://currentcells.com/article/qcells-jabil-michigan-home-battery-manufacturing-2026 Tue, 12 May 2026 00:05:15 GMT Manufacturing QcellsJabilHome BatteriesResidential StorageDomestic ContentMichiganSolar Plus StorageLFP currentcells-article-qcells-jabil-michigan-home-battery-manufacturing-2026 China is ramping sodium-ion battery production at an unprecedented pace. CATL has begun mass-producing Naxtra cells for commercial vehicles, BYD is building a 30 GWh factory, and over 370 GWh of manufacturing capacity is under construction across the country. The first sodium-ion passenger cars arrive mid-2026. https://currentcells.com/article/china-sodium-ion-batteries-mass-production-2026 Mon, 11 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT Chemistry Sodium-ionCATLBYDManufacturingChemistryEV BatteriesGrid StorageChinaNaxtra currentcells-article-china-sodium-ion-batteries-mass-production-2026 US battery manufacturing has crossed $45 billion in active construction, but the direction has shifted. Ford, GM, and LG Energy Solution are converting EV-focused plants to lithium iron phosphate grid storage production as EV demand lags and data center and grid needs surge. https://currentcells.com/article/us-battery-manufacturing-pivot-ev-to-grid-storage-2026 Mon, 11 May 2026 00:06:34 GMT Manufacturing manufacturingLFPgrid storageFordGMLG Energy Solutionenergy storagegigafactory currentcells-article-us-battery-manufacturing-pivot-ev-to-grid-storage-2026 JB Straubel's Redwood Materials remains a major recycling and battery-materials player, but 2026 has clarified a second identity. The company is scaling Redwood Energy with data center and manufacturing projects, expanding R&D in San Francisco, and restructuring after layoffs to focus on storage systems that can be deployed faster than new grid infrastructure. https://currentcells.com/article/redwood-materials-company-profile Sun, 10 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT Companies Redwood Materialsbattery recyclingJB Straubellithiumcathode materialscircular economyEV batteriesenergy storagecompanies currentcells-article-redwood-materials-company-profile BloombergNEF's new Energy Storage Market Outlook puts 2025 global BESS additions at 112 GW, the first year the industry crossed 100 GW annually. The 2026 forecast calls for 158 GW more, driven by China, AI data centers, and the first real traction for non-lithium chemistries at scale. https://currentcells.com/article/bloombergnef-158gw-energy-storage-2026-100-gigawatt-era Sun, 10 May 2026 17:39:27 GMT Grid Storage Grid StorageBloombergNEFBESSEnergy StorageSodium-IonChinaMarket Outlook currentcells-article-bloombergnef-158gw-energy-storage-2026-100-gigawatt-era Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited is the world's largest EV battery manufacturer, holding 38% global market share as of 2025. Founded in 2011 by Robin Zeng as a spin-off of ATL's automotive battery division, CATL grew from a Fujian startup to a $113 billion-asset company in under 15 years. Its technology portfolio spans LFP, NCM, Cell-to-Pack, the Kirin fast-charging battery, and a 500 Wh/kg condensed cell targeting aviation, while its 13 factories and deep upstream mining investments cement its supply chain dominance across three continents. https://currentcells.com/article/catl-company-profile Sat, 09 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT Companies CATLRobin ZengEV batterieslithium-ionenergy storageChinacompaniessodium-ionNaxtraHungaryDebrecen currentcells-article-catl-company-profile Morrow Batteries' collapse shows that even a focused European battery strategy built around LFP, future LNMO chemistry, public support, and early customer traction can still fail in a market defined by oversupply, lower prices, and tight capital. https://currentcells.com/article/morrow-batteries-bankruptcy-europe-cell-factory-2026 Sat, 09 May 2026 00:07:17 GMT Company News Morrow BatteriesEuropeBattery ManufacturingLFPLNMONorwayCompany NewsGrid Storage currentcells-article-morrow-batteries-bankruptcy-europe-cell-factory-2026 Sungrow's latest grid-forming test points to a broader change in the battery market, where developers and grid operators increasingly value black-start capability, fault response, and system strength alongside cost and duration. https://currentcells.com/article/sungrow-grid-forming-black-start-test-2026 Fri, 08 May 2026 00:05:36 GMT Grid Storage SungrowGrid-Forming InvertersBattery StorageBlack StartPowerTitanGrid StabilityAustraliaChina currentcells-article-sungrow-grid-forming-black-start-test-2026 BYD's second-generation Blade Battery and 1,500 kW Flash Charging system are now scaling across vehicles and infrastructure. The May update adds tight battery supply, normalized Tai 3 flash-charge deliveries, Tai 7 shipments, and Bao 8 and Bao 5 delivery timing, reframing the story around manufacturing execution as much as charging speed. https://currentcells.com/article/byd-second-gen-blade-battery-flash-charging-2026 Thu, 07 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT EV Batteries LFPBYDFlash ChargingBlade BatteryEV ChargingFast ChargingChina currentcells-article-byd-second-gen-blade-battery-flash-charging-2026 Fortescue's Pilbara green grid combines solar, wind, multi-gigawatt-hour battery storage, and AI controls to replace imported diesel across heavy mining operations, turning battery storage into core industrial infrastructure rather than a side asset. https://currentcells.com/article/fortescue-ai-battery-grid-pilbara-2026 Thu, 07 May 2026 00:08:03 GMT Grid Storage FortescuePilbaraBattery StorageGrid StorageAustraliaMiningAIRenewables currentcells-article-fortescue-ai-battery-grid-pilbara-2026 Northern European energy companies are pushing forward with multi-hundred-megawatt BESS projects backed by long-term tolling agreements, while India is diversifying beyond lithium-ion with 100MWh flow batteries and a 100GW pumped hydro roadmap. https://currentcells.com/article/global-energy-storage-boom-europe-india-2026 Wed, 06 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT Grid Storage BESSGrid StorageFlow BatteryPumped HydroEuropeIndiaVanadium currentcells-article-global-energy-storage-boom-europe-india-2026 Li-Cycle rose fast by offering one of the clearest business models in battery recycling: regional spokes that create black mass and a central hub that refines it into battery-grade materials. The strategy attracted support from LG, Glencore, and the U.S. Department of Energy, but Rochester Hub overruns and capital pressure pushed the company into restructuring in 2025. Glencore's acquisition did not erase the market need Li-Cycle identified, but it did show how difficult it is for first-of-kind battery infrastructure to stay independent long enough to finish the buildout. https://currentcells.com/article/li-cycle-company-profile Wed, 06 May 2026 01:16:00 GMT Companies Li-Cyclebattery recyclingblack massGlencoreLG Energy SolutionRochester Hubcritical mineralscircular economyDOE loan currentcells-article-li-cycle-company-profile The launch of CAISO's EDAM moves more western grid coordination into the day-ahead window, where batteries can capture value from energy arbitrage, imbalance reserves, and regional renewable balancing with more visibility and less real-time uncertainty. https://currentcells.com/article/caiso-edam-batteries-western-grid-2026 Wed, 06 May 2026 00:08:24 GMT Policy & Markets CAISOEDAMBattery StorageGrid StoragePolicy & MarketsPacifiCorpCaliforniaWestern Grid currentcells-article-caiso-edam-batteries-western-grid-2026 Grid-scale battery storage is no longer just a chemistry and cost story. The 2026 market now mixes record deployment with procurement rules that shape which projects get financed. Saudi Arabia has opened a 12 GWh qualification round, the EU has extended high-risk supplier funding restrictions to BESS, Brazil still has nearly 3 GW of battery demand waiting on a dedicated auction, and developers increasingly have to optimize for interconnection, cybersecurity, and local-content politics as much as for cell performance. https://currentcells.com/article/grid-scale-battery-storage-explained Tue, 05 May 2026 18:08:33 GMT grid storageBESSLFPbattery storagerenewable energyutility scaleenergy transitionfrequency regulationlong-duration storage currentcells-article-grid-scale-battery-storage-explained Battery storage projects that depend on EU-backed capital now face a tighter vendor screen. By extending high-risk supplier guidance to BESS power conversion systems, Brussels is turning cybersecurity rules into a finance problem for developers, integrators, and vendors across Europe. https://currentcells.com/article/eu-high-risk-supplier-funding-ban-bess-pcs-2026 Tue, 05 May 2026 00:08:25 GMT Policy & Markets Policy & MarketsGrid StorageBESSPCSEUCybersecurityProject FinanceChina currentcells-article-eu-high-risk-supplier-funding-ban-bess-pcs-2026 Solid-state batteries promise higher energy density and improved safety. But decades of research have yet to deliver a mass-market product. Here's an honest assessment of where things stand. https://currentcells.com/article/solid-state-batteries-promise-tradeoffs-2026 Mon, 04 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT knowledge Solid-stateChemistryResearch & Breakthroughs currentcells-article-solid-state-batteries-promise-tradeoffs-2026 Northvolt was founded in 2015 by two former Tesla executives with a mission to supply Europe's automotive industry with locally-made EV batteries. Over nine years, the company raised approximately $15 billion, built a factory in northern Sweden, and became Europe's answer to Chinese battery dominance. Quality failures, cancelled contracts, and massive losses led to Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 2024 and Swedish bankruptcy in March 2025 — the largest in modern Swedish industrial history. https://currentcells.com/article/northvolt-rise-and-fall-2025 Sun, 03 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT Companies Northvoltbattery manufacturingEV batteriesbankruptcylithium-ionEuropecompanies currentcells-article-northvolt-rise-and-fall-2025 CMBlu Energy has reached unicorn status after a new funding round, highlighting rising investor interest in non-flammable, lithium-free long-duration battery systems that could support hyperscale data centers and renewable-heavy grids. https://currentcells.com/article/cmblu-unicorn-lithium-free-battery-ai-data-centers-2026 Sun, 03 May 2026 00:06:59 GMT Company News CMBluSolidFlowLong-Duration StorageAI Data CentersGrid StorageGermanySamsung Ventures currentcells-article-cmblu-unicorn-lithium-free-battery-ai-data-centers-2026 LG Energy Solution is a top-tier global battery manufacturer with roots dating back to LG Chem's battery research in 1992. In its April 2026 first-quarter results, the company reported KRW 6.6 trillion in revenue and a KRW 207.8 billion operating loss, while securing more than 100 GWh of new 46-series cylindrical battery orders. The company's ESS business now contributes a mid-20 percent share of revenue, and LG says its North American storage production network is in place with a target of more than 50 GWh of ESS capacity by year-end. https://currentcells.com/article/lg-energy-solution-company-profile Sat, 02 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT Companies LG Energy SolutionEV batteriesUltium Cellsenergy storagebattery manufacturingHondaGMHyundai currentcells-article-lg-energy-solution-company-profile Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have published results for an all-iron flow battery electrolyte that sustains more than 6,000 full charge-discharge cycles without measurable capacity degradation, using materials that cost roughly 80 times less than lithium-based alternatives. The study appeared in Advanced Energy Materials in April 2026. https://currentcells.com/article/china-all-iron-flow-battery-6000-cycles-2026 Sat, 02 May 2026 10:49:14 GMT Research & Breakthroughs flow batteriesiron flow batteryCASChinese Academy of Sciencesgrid storagelong-duration storageAdvanced Energy Materialsresearchelectrolyte currentcells-article-china-all-iron-flow-battery-6000-cycles-2026 Data centres are emerging as the battery industry's most significant new market. Lyten acquired Northvolt's Swedish operations and plans a 1 GW data centre hub. Form Energy will deploy 30 GWh of iron-air batteries for Google. Inlyte Energy is piloting iron-sodium storage for Swiss colocation operator NTS. https://currentcells.com/article/batteries-meet-data-centres-2026 Sat, 02 May 2026 10:28:00 GMT news Grid StorageCompany NewsManufacturingIron-AirSodium-ionNMCData Centres currentcells-article-batteries-meet-data-centres-2026 Founded as a University of Colorado spinout in 2012, Solid Power has built a materials supplier and licensing model around sulfide solid electrolytes. With a trilateral validation partnership with BMW and Samsung SDI announced in late 2025, ongoing BMW i7 road testing, $336.5 million in cash, and 2025 revenue of $21.7 million, the company is a distinctive bet on the solid-state battery transition without gigafactory-scale capital risk. https://currentcells.com/article/solid-power-company-profile Wed, 29 Apr 2026 01:19:49 GMT Companies Solid Powersolid-state batteriesBMWFordSamsung SDISK Onsulfide electrolyteEV batteriesbattery technology currentcells-article-solid-power-company-profile