REG - Gelion PLC - Recycling secures Phase 2 Grant & Booster Funding

GelionAnnouncement

04/03/2025 07:15

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RNS Number : 1836Z  Gelion PLC  04 March 2025

4 March 2025

Gelion plc

("Gelion", "Company" or the "Group")

Successful Completion of Phase 1 of Battery Recycling Accelerator Programme

Secures Phase 2 Grant and Additional Booster Funding

 

Gelion (AIM: GELN), the Anglo-Australian battery innovator, announces that its
UK subsidiary, Battery Minerals Ltd ("Battery Minerals"), has successfully
completed Phase 1 of the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK's (APC) Technology
Developer Accelerator Programme (TDAP) and has subsequently secured £100,000
of Phase 2 grant-funding along with an additional £75,000 booster grant from
the UK's Department for Business and Trade (DBT) as part of the programme to
accelerate commercialisation of its recycling technology. Battery Minerals is
developing Lithium-Ion ("Li-Ion") recycling, a subset of the package of
battery related technologies that Gelion acquired from Johnson Matthey in
2023.

 

The focus of TDAP Phase 1 was to demonstrate commercial traction by engaging
prospective customers and partners to support the scale-up and commercial
deployment of the technology, which has been achieved.

 

During Phase 1, Battery Minerals successfully demonstrated:

·      commercial demand for its recycling technology offering;

·      the technology design concept for a modular unit that:

o  integrates with existing black mass producers, enabling lithium
extraction with significantly lower capital     investment requirements;

o   enables localised processing to reduce dependence on external supply
chains;

o   aims to provide a cost-effective operation, even at smaller scales.

 

These milestones reinforce the potential of Gelion's technology to drive
sustainable, efficient, and economically viable battery recycling solutions.

 

 

The technology would circumvent the need for large-scale refineries, which are
significantly higher cost and have a longer build time and allow localised
processing of battery waste. It is timely given the EU's minimum recycled
content targets for batteries (minimum 6% lithium from recycled sources in
2031) 1  and shift by battery makers and OEMs to increase recycled content in
their cells.

 

Progression to Phase 2 of the programme indicates the validation from the APC
and partners for Battery Minerals technology's potential and the commercial
traction achieved.

 

Phase 2 of TDAP, running between February 2025 and November 2025, focuses on
'Technology Validation' and will involve the further development of the
recycling process with partners to increase the technology-readiness level
("TRL") and potentially support a feasibility study for a larger scale pilot
plant. The booster grant was awarded to selected participants moving into
Phase 2 and will enable Battery Minerals to accelerate research by
establishing a dedicated laboratory facility and expanding the research team.

 

The growing volume of battery waste presents an environmental challenge, an
economic opportunity (projected to be worth $30-40 billion globally by
2030 2 ) and a strategic opportunity (self-sufficient minerals supply).

 

Gelion CEO John Wood said: "We are excited to be progressing to Phase 2 of
TDAP to accelerate our Lithium-Ion recycling technology suite to be investment
and market-ready and to have received support with additional grant funding.
The development of this cutting-edge, advanced recycling process is critical
to the future of the European battery industry, and APC's support is helping
us advance toward bringing our solution to market."

 

CONTACTS

 Gelion plc                                                              via Alma

 John Wood, CEO

 Amit Gupta, CFO

 Cavendish Capital Markets Limited (Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker)  +44 20 7220 0500

 Corporate Finance

 Neil McDonald / Seamus Fricker / Adam Rae

 Sales

 Louise Talbot

 Oberon Capital (Joint Broker)                                           +44 20 3179 5300
 Nick Lovering/ Mike Seabrook / Adam Pollock

 Alma Strategic Communications (Financial PR)                            +44 20 3405 0205

 Justine James / Hannah Campbell / Will Ellis Hancock                    gelion@almastrategic.com (mailto:gelion@almastrategic.com)

 

About Gelion

Gelion ("gel: ion") is a global energy storage innovator, supporting the
transition to a more sustainable economy by commercialising two globally
important next generation technologies: Lithium-Sulfur (LiS) and Zinc-based
(Zn) hybrid cells to electrify mobile and stationary applications. Gelion plc
(the Group) is listed on the London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment
Market and wholly owns Australia based Gelion Technologies Pty Ltd and UK
based OXLiD Ltd. Gelion is designing and delivering innovative battery
technologies and integrated systems solutions to enable that transition and
return value for its customers and investors.

Lithium Sulfur

Gelion's effort is directed at the potential for the Li-S chemistry to deliver
double the gravimetric energy density of standard Lithium-ion chemistries,
whilst concurrently reducing cost and increasing safety, targeting the EV and
e-aviation market, helping to make global transport, energy consumption and
storage more sustainable.

Gelion is developing a GEN 3 Lithium-Sulfur cell product for its high energy
density sulfur cathode at its expanded R&D facilities in Australia and UK,
enabling it to integrate with a variety of anodes ranging from graphite to
silicon to lithium-metal, depending on the targeted application.

Gelion's GEN 3 cell is unlocking the potential of sulfur batteries for a wide
range of global mobile applications including electrical
vertical-take-off-and-landing (eVTOL), drone markets, electric vehicles (EVs)
and stationary energy storage (ESS).

Advantages of Gelion's GEN 3 Lithium Sulfur

·       High energy density - Energy density > 400 Wh/kg, when
using a 10+ Ah pouch cell.

·       Semi-solid-state / Solid-State as a route to increased
longevity/cycle life: GEN 3 employs a semi-solid-state and solid-state
mechanism which mitigates the major degradation factor associated with
conventional Li-S technology.

·       Increased sulfur utilisation: GEN 3 demonstrates the full
theoretical capacity of sulfur, i.e. a much higher sulfur utilisation than
found in conventional Li-S approaches.

·       Simplified supply chain: The innovative cathode is produced by
mixing commercially available materials with abundant sulfur using a
low-energy, room-temperature process, with potential to eliminate the need for
pre-fabrication of the sulfur composite (sulfur composite is related to
cathode active material in conventional lithium-ion batteries), streamlining
the associated supply chain and production process and enabling localised
manufacturing.

·       Environmental and economic benefits: The water-based,
standard-atmosphere cathode production process eliminates the need for toxic
solvents, leading to significant cost savings and enhanced manufacturability.

Glossary

 1MPa                                                            This level of pressure replicates real-world pressure conditions inside
                                                                 batteries and is crucial for ensuring the durability, efficiency, and
                                                                 performance of the separator in practical applications.
 Ah                                                              Ampere hours. A measure of capacity stored in the cell. The larger the number
                                                                 the higher the capacity.
 Energy density (Wh/kg)                                          The ratio of energy stored per unit weight i.e. Watt-hours per kilogram. The
                                                                 higher the number the lighter the battery.
 Pouch cell                                                      An industry standard format of a battery which comprises a flat pouch-shaped
                                                                 design with a multi-layered laminate structure.
 Solid-to-solid conversion                                       A low or polysulfide-free conversion of sulfur within the cathode.
                                                                 Polysulfides are a dissolved form of sulfur that is corrosive and reduces
                                                                 cycle life in traditional lithium-sulfur batteries. Solid-to-solid conversion
                                                                 helps mitigate the formation of these polysulfides.
 Semi-solid state as a route to increased longevity/cycle life:  Gelion's GEN 3 technology can employ a semi-solid-state mechanism, maintaining
                                                                 the sulfur-based cathode materials in the cathode, preventing their diffusion
                                                                 into the electrolyte and diminishing associated battery degradation caused by
                                                                 reactive polysulfides. This approach mitigates the major degradation factor
                                                                 associated with conventional Li-S technology.
 Solid state separator                                           A solid-state separator is a solid material that separates the anode and
                                                                 cathode in a battery, enabling ion transfer while preventing short circuits
                                                                 enhancing battery safety, supports higher energy densities, and allows stable
                                                                 use of a lithium metal anode, increasing capacity and lifespan.
 Cycle life                                                      The number of full charge and discharge cycles a battery can complete before
                                                                 its capacity falls below a specified level, typically 80% of the original
                                                                 capacity. Higher cycle life indicates longer-lasting performance.

 

Zinc

Gelion is adapting its zinc technology to comprise an alternate cathode
technology, a zinc hybrid cell to develop complementary next-generation
batteries for the lead-acid eco-system. Early testing indicates that this
solution has the potential to maintain good energy density levels with
enhanced cost and safety aspects. Once fully developed, Gelion intends for our
zinc technology to provide a durable and sustainable market extension within
the ecosystem that supports lead-acid batteries.

Recycling

Gelion is pioneering an innovative battery recycling technology designed to
enhance and supplement current recycling methods. Our technology aims to
significantly reduce the initial costs of recycling plants, minimize waste,
and lower carbon emissions, while improving the purity of metal products and
enabling efficient lithium extraction. This advancement will allow for a
broader range of scrap materials to be recycled. Currently in the feasibility
stage, Gelion is committed to advancing our technology to a pilot-scale
demonstration, paving the way for commercialisation through material
production and IP licensing.

Integration

Gelion leverages its significant integration and BMS capability to deliver
bespoke BESS for Australian customers. These BESS are currently based on
lithium-ion technology and will also include Gelion's next-generation
batteries as these become available. Gelion will deploy BESS with our
proprietary cloud-based battery monitoring system, which will provide
real-time diagnostics and alerts to maximise performance and return on
investment for our customers.

About the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK

The Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) collaborates with UK government, the
automotive industry and academia to facilitate funding and accelerate the
industrialisation of technologies, supporting the transition to a net-zero
automotive supply chain in the UK.

Since its foundation in 2013, APC, with the backing of the UK Government's
Department for Business and Trade (DBT), has funded 264 low-carbon and zero
emission projects involving 492 partners, working with companies of all sizes,
and will have helped to create or safeguard over 58,000 jobs in the UK. The
technologies developed in these projects are projected to save over 410
million tonnes of CO2.

With its deep sector expertise and cutting-edge knowledge of new propulsion
technologies, APC's role in building and advising project consortia helps
projects start more quickly and deliver increased value. In the longer term,
its work to drive innovation and encourage collaboration is building the
foundations for a successful and sustainable UK automotive industry.

In 2020 UK Government established the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) to
accelerate the development of a net-zero vehicle supply chain, enabling
UK-based manufacturers to serve global markets. ATF investments are accessed
through the APC and awarded by DBT to support strategically important UK
capital and R&D investments that will enable companies involved in
batteries, motors and drives, power electronics, fuel cells, and associated
supply chains to anchor their future.

For more information go to www.apcuk.co.uk (http://www.apcuk.co.uk) or follow
us @theapcuk on X and Advanced Propulsion Centre UK on LinkedIn.

 1  https://www.iea.org/policies/16763-eu-sustainable-batteries-regulation

 2 
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1103263/li-ion-battery-recycling-market-size/

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