CellMap: How different parameters influence cost and performance of battery cells from material to the final cell

Asian battery manufacturers are the global leaders throughout the battery value chain. The European battery initiative, which has gained significant traction in recent years, has faced significant setbacks over the past year, with major downsizing efforts with Northvolt’s bankruptcy being the most notable. In Norway, several material producers are aiming to secure a role in the global battery value chain, supported by Norways green energy mix and extensive experience in raw material processing from other industries. As a battery nation, Norway is still young, but the current focus on batteries is building substantial expertise in the race to become a global player, with the first step being towards Europe. The CellMap collaborative and knowledge-building project’s mission is to strengthen Norway’s growing battery sector by accelerating the development of relevant skills at a national level. We have now started producing electrodes, with a particular focus on slurry mixing. This represents an important step forward in our understanding of the production process. We have also developed a plan to digitalise the cell line (NABLA) and manage the data generated. This will help optimise production and make it easier to integrate new materials and methods. Slurry optimisation is now at a stage where we are using design-of-experiment in collaboration with industry partners. The project’s PhD student (NTNU and IFE) is now well underway with electrode production and detailed measurements of the drying process. The pilot line infrastructure at IFE, part of the national NABLA infrastructure, is a central element of this activity. Here, we scale up from lab bench, TRL3, to pilot scale, TRL4–6. This is the final step before factory testing. Our ongoing efforts in electrode production and digitalisation will help accelerate this process. As we build new cell factories and production lines, our thorough understanding of each step in the process and how it can be scaled up will reduce waste and speed up the integration of new materials. Our recent progress in electrode production and plans for digitalisation bring us closer to this goal and strengthen Norway’s position in the global battery industry.

Today’s battery industry is dominated by Asia-based companies, already delivering batteries in large volumes and at low cost. However, several European and Norwegian initiatives have recently emerged to provide alternative supply, aiming to establish European energy independence. Modern Norwegian industry aims to capitalize on the advantage of clean, environmentally friendly electricity. Battery production in Norway has the scope to deliver cells and materials with a considerably lower CO2 footprint compared to competitors. Practical competence in Norway, however, still lags behind countries with existing battery industries. The goal of CellMap is to strengthen the position of the emerging Norwegian battery industry by accelerating the growth of the required competences at national level. Specifically, we will use the National Advanced Battery Laboratory (NABALA) cell pilot line infrastructure to map every stage of the cell production process. This will increase the rate at which we can transfer materials, knowledge and methods from the laboratory bench to the factory, bringing industrial processes up to optimal yield faster—one of the key factors determining success or failure for a production-based business. Clear understanding of all the stages of cell production and how they can be scaled-up will reduce the scrap rate when new cell factories and production lines are built and accelerate integration of new materials into existing production processes.