Integrals Power to supply LMFP cathode material to EU-funded OLiMPUS battery project

UK battery materials company Integrals Power will supply its lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) cathode active material to OLiMPUS, a €9-million Horizon Europe project that aims to develop LMFP battery cells using a European supply chain. The company will provide more than 150 kg of the manganese-rich material, and is also responsible for scaling up and industrializing the manufacturing process and supporting cell prototyping and validation.

OLiMPUS brings together 16 partners from across the battery value chain, including Volvo Trucks, Magna Steyr, cell manufacturer Verkor, synthetic graphite anode supplier Vianode and maritime energy storage specialist Corvus Energy.

The project will run until 2030 and will produce more than 130 automotive-grade cells on SINTEF’s pilot lines and at Verkor’s gigafactory, in pouch and prismatic formats and capacities from 10 to 80 Ah. Target specific energy is up to 220 Wh/kg.

Integrals Power’s LMFP has a manganese content of 80%, which the company says gives it up to 20% greater energy density than conventional LFP while maintaining LFP’s cost, safety and long cycle life. The material contains no nickel or cobalt.

Water replaces N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), a toxic solvent used in conventional electrode coating, and a semi-dry coating process reduces the energy needed for drying. The synthetic graphite anode further cuts the carbon footprint, and the project forecasts a reduction of about 1.8 million tonnes of lifecycle CO₂-equivalent emissions by 2050 against a benchmark NMC811 chemistry.

OLiMPUS forecasts costs of €56 to €65/kWh at cell level and €67 to €75/kWh at pack level. According to McKinsey, some Chinese manufacturers reach around €64/kWh at pack level for LFP and €82/kWh for NMC.

Mass production of LMFP cells in Europe is planned for 2032, and the main applications are EVs and maritime shipping.

“Our participation in OLiMPUS is the clearest demonstration yet that Integrals Power’s patented LMFP technology is a key enabler for establishing sovereign battery capability in the UK and Europe,” said Behnam Hormozi, Integrals Power’s founder and CEO. “A successful transition from fossil fuels to clean energy sources can only be achieved with a robust, transparent, sustainable and cost-effective battery supply chain, and that requires alternatives to cell chemistries and manufacturing reliant on critical minerals and Chinese technology.”

Source: Integrals Power