https://currentcells.com/ Infrastructure journalism covering the battery industry and the electrification revolution. en-us Fri, 08 May 2026 18:10:34 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 and full price history since tracking began. https://currentcells.com/article/battery-materials-price-index Mon, 04 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT Price Index Price IndexLithiumCobaltNickelManganeseGraphiteCommoditiesMarket Data currentcells-article-battery-materials-price-index 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 Mon, 27 Apr 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 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 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:08:07 GMT Chemistry Sodium-ionCATLBYDManufacturingChemistryEV BatteriesGrid StorageChinaNaxtra currentcells-article-china-sodium-ion-batteries-mass-production-2026 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 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 Fri, 08 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT knowledge Sodium-ionChemistryCost per kWhGrid StorageCATLBYDNaxtraEV BatteriesCommercial Production currentcells-article-sodium-ion-batteries-how-they-work 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 new Flash Charging system pairs a redesigned LFP Blade Battery with 1,500 kW charging stations, delivering 10-97% charge in nine minutes with a remarkably flat power curve. The company plans 20,000 stations in China by year-end, each with integrated battery storage that eliminates grid upgrade requirements. The technology's implications extend beyond speed, potentially enabling automakers to build lighter EVs with smaller packs while still offering seamless road trip capability. 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 A complete technical explainer on lithium-sulfur batteries: the electrochemistry, the polysulfide shuttle problem and how engineers are solving it, key players (Lyten, Sion Power), a chemistry comparison table, and the commercialization roadmap by application. https://currentcells.com/article/lithium-sulfur-batteries-explained Tue, 28 Apr 2026 01:19:45 GMT Battery Chemistry lithium-sulfurbattery chemistryLytenSion Powerenergy densitynext-generation batteriesEV batteriesknowledge currentcells-article-lithium-sulfur-batteries-explained QuantumScape is developing solid-state lithium-metal batteries that could transform EV range and charging. The technology is promising — but commercialization remains the challenge. https://currentcells.com/article/quantumscape-eagle-line-solid-state-2026 Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT company QuantumScapeSolid-stateResearch & BreakthroughsCompany News currentcells-article-quantumscape-eagle-line-solid-state-2026 A joint KIST/IAE team substituted platinum atoms into a tungsten diselenide lattice, activating the entire basal plane as a catalytic surface. The result: 550-plus stable cycles at fast-charge rates, beating expensive platinum-carbon catalysts. Lithium-air's theoretical energy density sits at roughly 3,500 Wh/kg -- about 10x today's best lithium-ion cells. https://currentcells.com/article/lithium-air-battery-wse2-catalyst-breakthrough-2026 Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:07:48 GMT Research & Breakthroughs Lithium-airSolid-stateResearchKoreaKISTCatalystNext-gen batteries2D materials currentcells-article-lithium-air-battery-wse2-catalyst-breakthrough-2026 China controls 72% of global long-duration energy storage capacity and just commissioned the world's first GWh-scale vanadium flow battery project. The U.S. has the most diversified LDES technology portfolio in development. BloombergNEF projects deployments to quadruple in 2026. Here is what each country is building, why the approaches differ, and what the next 18 months will decide. https://currentcells.com/article/ldes-us-china-race-2026 Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:08:34 GMT Grid Storage Long-Duration StorageLDESIron-AirVanadium FlowCompressed AirForm EnergyHydrostorChinaGrid StoragePolicy & Markets currentcells-article-ldes-us-china-race-2026 QuantumScape, founded in 2010 at Stanford and backed by Volkswagen with over $300M in direct investment, is developing a ceramic solid-state separator lithium metal battery. Its QSE-5 cell achieves 844 Wh/L and 301 Wh/kg, with 1,000+ cycles and less than 5% capacity loss. B-samples began shipping in late 2025, and a 40 GWh/year volume production agreement with VW PowerCo positions the company as a frontrunner in the race to commercialize solid-state EV batteries. https://currentcells.com/article/quantumscape-company-profile Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT Companies QuantumScapesolid-state batteryQSE-5Volkswagenlithium metalEV batteriesbattery technologyNYSE QS currentcells-article-quantumscape-company-profile BloombergNEF has tracked 4.9 GW of battery storage announcements co-located with fossil fuel generation at data centers worldwide. Projects like xAI's Colossus in Memphis and Pacifico's GW Ranch in Texas show how AI infrastructure is choosing speed over grid dependence, pairing Tesla Megapacks with natural gas turbines to get reliable power without waiting years for utility interconnection. https://currentcells.com/article/datacenter-batteries-natural-gas-ai-2026 Sat, 25 Apr 2026 00:04:11 GMT Grid Storage Grid StorageData CentersAILFPTesla MegapackERCOTNatural GasBESSPolicy & Markets currentcells-article-datacenter-batteries-natural-gas-ai-2026 The EU's proposed Industrial Accelerator Act sets local content requirements for EV batteries, mandating that at least three components including cells be produced in Europe by 2027, rising to five by 2030. Critics warn that loopholes around cathode precursors and free trade agreement exemptions could undermine the law's impact. Meanwhile, T&E is pushing for mandatory V2G-ready standards in all new EVs by 2032, aiming to turn parked electric vehicles into distributed grid storage assets. https://currentcells.com/article/eu-industrial-accelerator-act-battery-local-content-march-2026 Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:00:00 GMT Policy & Markets EUIAAPolicyV2GManufacturingLocal ContentEV BatteriesGigafactories currentcells-article-eu-industrial-accelerator-act-battery-local-content-march-2026 The Saudi Power Procurement Company launched qualification for six new battery projects totaling 3 GW and 12,000 MWh this week, marking the second round of a program targeting 48 GWh of grid storage by 2030. Here is what the projects look like, who will supply them, and why the Gulf is becoming one of the most important battery markets outside China. https://currentcells.com/article/saudi-arabia-12gwh-bess-tender-2026 Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:06:45 GMT Grid Storage LFPGrid StoragePolicy & MarketsBESSSaudi ArabiaVision 2030Middle East currentcells-article-saudi-arabia-12gwh-bess-tender-2026 Rivian and Redwood Materials are deploying the largest second-life battery storage system at a U.S. automotive plant — 10 MWh of repurposed Rivian EV packs at the Normal, Illinois factory. The project shows how circular battery economics are moving from concept to commercial scale. https://currentcells.com/article/rivian-redwood-second-life-battery-storage-2026 Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:06:24 GMT Recycling second-life batteriesRivianRedwood MaterialsBESSbattery recyclingcircular economyEV batteriesgrid storage currentcells-article-rivian-redwood-second-life-battery-storage-2026 Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd. is a Japan-based battery manufacturer with roots to 1923 and a formal corporate identity established in April 2022 under Panasonic Holdings. The company is Tesla's exclusive NCA cylindrical cell supplier, producing 18650, 2170, and 4680 format cells at factories in Japan and jointly at Gigafactory Nevada. FY2025 revenue was 873.2 billion yen (~$5.8B USD), down 5% year-over-year due to EV demand softness, while operating profit margins improved to 13.8%. The company began volume production of 4680 cells in Wakayama in late 2024 and announced an anode-free battery technology in September 2025 targeting 25% higher energy density by approximately 2027. Its Kansas plant development has been delayed. The industrial and consumer battery segment grew 28% in FY2025, partially offsetting a 20% decline in the in-vehicle segment. https://currentcells.com/article/panasonic-energy-company-profile Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:32:53 GMT Companies Panasonic EnergybatteryEVTesla4680NCAcylindrical cellsJapanGigafactory currentcells-article-panasonic-energy-company-profile At its Beijing Tech Day on April 21, CATL unveiled the third-generation Shenxing LFP battery (10-80% in 3 min 44 sec), the Qilin 3 NMC pack (1,000 km range, 3,000 kW output), a production-ready condensed matter battery at 350 Wh/kg, and confirmed Q4 2026 mass delivery of sodium-ion cells. https://currentcells.com/article/catl-shenxing-iii-tech-day-beijing-2026 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:06:23 GMT EV Batteries CATLLFPNMCShenxingFast ChargingSodium-ionSolid-stateBeijing Auto Show currentcells-article-catl-shenxing-iii-tech-day-beijing-2026 Netherlands-based Moonwatt announced its first sodium-ion BESS project using distributed architecture, California community choice aggregators secured capacity from Hydrostor's 500MW compressed-air facility, and PowerSecure broke ground on resilience microgrids in Northern New Mexico. The convergence of these deals highlights a storage market moving beyond lithium-ion monoculture. https://currentcells.com/article/sodium-ion-disruption-moonwatt-us-storage-roundup Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:00:00 GMT Grid Storage Sodium-ionGrid StorageBESSMicrogridsCAESLong-Duration StorageMoonwattHydrostorPowerSecure currentcells-article-sodium-ion-disruption-moonwatt-us-storage-roundup Samsung SDI Co., Ltd. is a South Korean battery manufacturer founded in 1970, supplying lithium-ion cells to BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and GM. Revenue was $9.3 billion in fiscal 2025, down 20% year-over-year due to EV demand slowdown, but ESS (energy storage systems) hit record sales driven by over $1 billion in US grid storage contracts. The company is targeting all-solid-state battery (ASSB) mass production under the SolidStack brand by 2027. https://currentcells.com/article/samsung-sdi-company-profile Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:07:05 GMT Companies Samsung SDIsolid-state batteryEV batteriesenergy storageSolidStackPrismStackcompany profileSouth Korea currentcells-article-samsung-sdi-company-profile A Battery Management System monitors, protects, balances, and communicates for every cell in a lithium-ion pack. This explainer covers BMS architecture from centralized chips to multi-tier grid systems, how state-of-charge estimation works, the difference between passive and active balancing, chemistry-specific requirements, and how AI is transforming BMS from reactive protection to predictive optimization. https://currentcells.com/article/battery-management-systems-explained Tue, 21 Apr 2026 08:56:26 GMT Technology BMSbattery management systemEV batteriesgrid storagestate of chargecell balancingthermal runawayLFPNMCAI batteries currentcells-article-battery-management-systems-explained Battery storage costs have fallen 75 percent since 2018 and are still dropping. A UBS research note published April 20 projects global BESS demand hitting 1.6 TWh by 2030, with US deployments tripling. From inner Mongolia to New Zealand to Argentina, the buildout is accelerating fast enough that the industry's main constraint is no longer economics — it's execution. https://currentcells.com/article/bess-cost-collapse-grid-boom-2026 Tue, 21 Apr 2026 08:41:46 GMT Grid Storage LFPGrid StorageBESSCost DeclineUBSBloombergNEFArgentinaNew ZealandAustraliaPolicy & Markets currentcells-article-bess-cost-collapse-grid-boom-2026 Brazil’s first battery storage auction is shaping into a policy test. Domestic manufacturers want reserved capacity, scoring advantages, or BNDES-backed support so local system assembly, inverters, software, and integration work are not wiped out by low-cost imports in the first round. https://currentcells.com/article/brazil-battery-makers-first-storage-auction-local-content-2026 Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:07:28 GMT Policy & Markets BrazilGrid StorageBESSWEGMouraUCB PowerBNDESPolicy currentcells-article-brazil-battery-makers-first-storage-auction-local-content-2026 A comprehensive explainer on LFP (LiFePO4) batteries: how the chemistry works, why the iron-phosphate bond is so thermally stable, real performance numbers, BYD blade and CATL cell-to-pack innovations, cost advantages vs NMC, and where each chemistry wins. https://currentcells.com/article/lfp-batteries-explained Sat, 18 Apr 2026 18:00:00 GMT Battery Chemistry LFPlithium iron phosphateLiFePO4battery chemistrygrid storageBYDCATLTeslaEV batteries currentcells-article-lfp-batteries-explained Hithium and Navarre signed a formal investment commitment for a Spain battery plant focused on cells and stationary storage systems. The project targets 2027 production, 700 jobs, and strengthens Spain’s case as a European battery manufacturing hub. https://currentcells.com/article/hithium-spain-battery-plant-navarre-2026 Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:07:35 GMT Gigafactories HithiumSpainNavarreGigafactoriesGrid StorageBESSBattery Manufacturing currentcells-article-hithium-spain-battery-plant-navarre-2026 Form Energy has closed the largest long-duration energy storage contract in history: 300 MW / 30 GWh of iron-air batteries for Xcel Energy in Minnesota, paired with 1.4 GW of wind and 200 MW of solar to deliver 24/7 clean power to a Google data center. The deal comes as U.S. grid battery installations hit a record 13 GW in 2025, pushing total capacity past 45 GW. https://currentcells.com/article/form-energy-30gwh-iron-air-battery-google-data-center-2026 Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:00:00 GMT Grid Storage Iron-AirForm EnergyGoogleXcel EnergyGrid StorageLong-Duration StorageData CentersMinnesotaClean EnergyWeirtonManufacturingLDES currentcells-article-form-energy-30gwh-iron-air-battery-google-data-center-2026 Flow batteries, particularly vanadium redox systems, decouple power from energy storage in a way that makes them uniquely suited for long-duration grid storage beyond 6-8 hours. This explainer covers the chemistry, architecture, key players, supply chain, and the path to commercial cost competitiveness. https://currentcells.com/article/flow-batteries-explained-vanadium-redox-grid-storage Fri, 17 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT Battery Technology flow batteriesvanadiumlong-duration storageLDESgrid storageredox chemistryenergy storagerenewables integrationbattery technology currentcells-article-flow-batteries-explained-vanadium-redox-grid-storage The Senate's 50-49 vote reopens the policy path for the Twin Metals copper-nickel-cobalt project in Minnesota, but the mine still faces lease restoration, environmental review, and years of permitting. For the battery sector, the bigger signal is political: Washington is increasingly willing to back domestic mineral access even in highly contested places. https://currentcells.com/article/senate-minnesota-mining-ban-twin-metals-battery-supply-2026 Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT Materials & Mining CopperNickelCobaltMiningTwin MetalsMinnesotaCritical Minerals currentcells-article-senate-minnesota-mining-ban-twin-metals-battery-supply-2026 Form Energy is a Cambridge, MA-based energy storage company that has spent eight years developing iron-air batteries capable of discharging for 100 or more hours continuously. The technology uses iron, water, and air as its core materials, sidestepping the rare metals and fire risks associated with lithium-ion chemistry. Co-founded in 2017 by Tesla Energy veteran Mateo Jaramillo and four battery scientists, the company has raised over $1.2 billion across six funding rounds, received up to $150 million in DOE backing, and signed commercial agreements exceeding 75 GWh. Its first commercial factory, Form Factory 1, opened in Weirton, West Virginia, on the site of the former Weirton Steel mill. Early deployments include a 1.5 MW pilot with Great River Energy in Minnesota, a 15 MW agreement with Georgia Power, and a landmark 300 MW / 30 GWh deal tied to a Google data center in Minnesota via Xcel Energy, described as the largest grid battery ever proposed. In March 2026, AI infrastructure company Crusoe reserved 12 GWh of iron-air capacity for data center power starting in 2027. https://currentcells.com/article/form-energy-iron-air-battery-company-profile Thu, 16 Apr 2026 21:00:00 GMT Companies energy storagebatteriesiron-airlong-duration storageclean energyWest Virginiamanufacturingdata centersgrid reliabilityForm Energy currentcells-article-form-energy-iron-air-battery-company-profile A comprehensive guide to the four dominant lithium-ion battery chemistries — how they work, where they excel, and the tradeoffs that determine which chemistry powers your EV, grid, or device. https://currentcells.com/article/battery-chemistries-101-lfp-nmc-nca-sodium-ion Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:00:00 GMT knowledge LFPNMCNCAChemistryLithium-ion currentcells-article-battery-chemistries-101-lfp-nmc-nca-sodium-ion The U.S. battery recycling industry is no longer a pilot project. Cox Automotive just processed 10 million pounds of black mass, Redwood Materials is running a 900-acre campus in Nevada, and Ascend Elements is preparing to restart construction on America's first commercial pCAM plant. With a billion pounds of battery waste projected by 2030, the scramble to build recycling infrastructure is on. https://currentcells.com/article/battery-recycling-hits-industrial-scale-2026 Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT Recycling Battery RecyclingBlack MassCircular EconomyRedwood MaterialsCox AutomotiveAscend ElementsCirba SolutionspCAMCritical MineralsSupply Chain currentcells-article-battery-recycling-hits-industrial-scale-2026 Alinta Energy has begun main construction on the first 1,000 MWh stage of Reeves Plains in South Australia, while Neoen has submitted its 3.2 GWh Bondo wind-plus-storage development for federal review in New South Wales. Together, the projects underline how quickly Australia is building large batteries into the power system. https://currentcells.com/article/australia-battery-buildout-reeves-plains-bondo-2026 Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:39:58 GMT Grid Storage Grid StorageAustraliaBESSAlinta EnergyNeoenCATLWind-plus-storageSouth AustraliaNew South Wales currentcells-article-australia-battery-buildout-reeves-plains-bondo-2026 Eni's $70 million investment in Nouveau Monde Graphite is part of a $297 million financing package that advances Quebec's Matawinie mine and Bécancour battery materials plant, while giving Eni a route to secure graphite and anode supply for its Brindisi battery project. https://currentcells.com/article/eni-nouveau-monde-graphite-anode-supply-2026 Sun, 12 Apr 2026 19:43:48 GMT Materials & Mining GraphiteAnode MaterialsMaterials & MiningEniNouveau Monde GraphiteCanadaItalyStationary Storage currentcells-article-eni-nouveau-monde-graphite-anode-supply-2026 The UK government has awarded £380 million to Tata's Agratas battery plant in Somerset, helping finance equipment and site buildout for a factory meant to supply Jaguar Land Rover and anchor a domestic EV battery supply chain. https://currentcells.com/article/uk-backs-tata-agratas-somerset-gigafactory-2026 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:09:13 GMT Gigafactories GigafactoriesEV BatteriesPolicy & MarketsManufacturingTataAgratasJLRUnited Kingdom currentcells-article-uk-backs-tata-agratas-somerset-gigafactory-2026 A single day in February 2026 saw over 1 GWh of grid-scale battery storage milestones across Germany, Scotland, Ireland, and Denmark. In parallel, India tendered a 100 MWh flow battery, piloted CO2 storage technology, and published a 100 GW pumped hydro roadmap targeting 2035. https://currentcells.com/article/europe-india-grid-storage-boom-february-2026 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:00:00 GMT Grid Storage BESSGrid StorageFlow BatteryPumped HydroEuropeIndiaVRFBLithium-ion currentcells-article-europe-india-grid-storage-boom-february-2026 Zimbabwe is shifting from a simple export ban to a quota system that ties lithium shipments to local processing commitments. The policy could redirect more battery-material value into the country, but it also adds cost, timing risk, and new pressure on miners to build chemical conversion capacity. https://currentcells.com/article/zimbabwe-lithium-export-quotas-local-processing-2026 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:09:19 GMT Materials & Mining LithiumZimbabweMaterials & MiningLithium SulphateSupply ChainPolicy currentcells-article-zimbabwe-lithium-export-quotas-local-processing-2026 Silicon anode batteries promise cell-level energy densities above 400 Wh/kg, roughly 40-60% better than graphite-anode lithium-ion cells. This explainer covers the chemistry behind the density advantage, the volume expansion problem, the three main engineering approaches (Si/C composites, SiOx, silicon nanowires), the companies now at automotive scale, and the remaining challenges before silicon anodes reach mass-market EVs. https://currentcells.com/article/silicon-anode-batteries-explained Wed, 08 Apr 2026 18:00:00 GMT Battery Technology silicon anodebattery chemistryenergy densityEV batteriesSila NanotechnologiesGroup14Ampriuslithium-ionbattery technology currentcells-article-silicon-anode-batteries-explained