NAATBatt 2026 STARTS SOON; REGISTER NOW! Registration prices go up on February 3.

NAATBatt International will hold its 17th annual meeting and conference on February 9-12, 2026 at the JW Tucson Starr Pass hotel in Tucson, Arizona. The program will feature annual reports by NAATBatt's Chief Science Officer and Chief Technology Officer, market reports on multiple sectors of the advanced battery market delivered by leading consulting and media firms, in-person meetings of all 18 NAATBatt industry committees, and the famous Member Update Presentations by most of NAATBatt's 380 member firms.

The NAATBatt annual meeting starts 9 days earlier than last year. So you may not have as much time as you think to register. Act soon.

Hotel Room Block Extended: The JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort has extended the NAATBatt room block to January 26. To make reservations at the discounted conference rate click here. We strongly advise anyone who even thinks that they may attend NAATBatt 2026 to take advantage of this offer and reserve their hotel room now.

Don't miss the networking and social activities at NAATBatt 2026. This year NAATBatt is bringing back the clay shooting competition to accompany the annual golf tournament. The meals, networking breaks, exhibit floor, spouses and companions program and other activities are all designed to make it easy to meet who you want to meet in the industry and to form good personal as well as business relationships.

The NAATBatt annual meeting is where business relationships get made and business deals get done. If you work in the North American advanced battery industry, don't miss NAATBatt 2026.

For more information and to register, go to: https://nac.naatbatt.org/nac2026 .

LISTEN TO THE NAATBatt CROSSROADS OF CHANGE WEBINAR ON JANUARY 28 AND 29

The NAATBatt Onshoring Battery Technology Committee, in partnership with the NAATBatt Cybersecurity and Markets Committees, is holding a free webinar on January 28 and 29, to help U.S. and non-U.S. companies working in the North American advanced battery market understand the forces reshaping the battery and energy storage markets in the United States. The webinar will cover the evolving xEV strategies of North American automakers; U.S. policy developments impacting ESS deployment; cybersecurity risk management for EV and ESS manufacturers; and the potential impact on manufacturers and importers of the pending U.S. Supreme Court ruling on tariffs.

Registration for the webinar is free. Listen in on whichever session is most convenient for you. Click on one of the links below to register to listen at either of the following times:

Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. EST

-or-

Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. EST

NEW COMMITTEE ON ESS AND DATA CENTERS

NAATBatt recently formed its 18th discussion committee: the ESS and Data Center Committee. This committee will focus on the use of battery technology in all aspects of high capacity stationary energy storage, both in front and behind the meter. The market, technology and regulatory issues facing ESS developers will be discussed and studied. The committee will focus in particular on the energy storage needs and challenges of the rapidly growing hyperscale data center market. The new committee will be co-Chaired by Paul Charles of Charles and Associates and Michael Euripides of SIMBA Chain. Sign up for this committee, and any other NAATBatt discussion committees here. There is no cost and no commitment to signing up for NAATBatt committees. You will only get technology smarter and business wiser by participating in their discussions. NAATBatt discussion committees are the advanced battery industry's "water cooler".

NAATBATT LITHIUM-ION BATTERY SUPPLY CHAIN DATABASE

The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR; formerly NREL) recently released an update of the NAATBatt Lithium-Ion Battery Supply Chain Database. This newly enhanced edition marks a significant upgrade from the February 2025 version, now tracking 1,178 facilities and 1,022 companies across North America. Developed in collaboration with Avicenne Energy US, the database introduces several powerful new features, including real-time production data, detailed construction timelines, and expanded coverage across the upstream, midstream, downstream, and recycling sectors of the battery supply chain. It is accessible via an online interface or as an Excel download, allowing for easy integration into strategic planning processes.

Originally launched in 2021, the database remains the most comprehensive directory of North American companies involved in lithium-based battery manufacturing. It categorizes companies by product line and includes any firm that supplies goods or services used in the production of lithium-ion batteries. As of the February 2025 update, the database also includes professional service providers—such as law firms, consultants, accountants, HR specialists, and financial services firms—provided they are NAATBatt International members and serve clients in the battery industry. The database is updated twice a year. Companies not listed can submit their information via the online questionnaire. Corrections or feedback can be sent to LIB.SupplyChain@nrel.gov.

If your company is a NAATBatt member and would like to be included in the database, click here to submit your request to NLR. Please include your company name, name of the principal contact at your company, contact's e-mail address and phone number, type of professional service offered, and principal business address.

THE NEW NAATBATT WEBSITE AND MEMBERS PORTAL

Exciting news! NAATBatt’has a new website! Check out: www.naatbatt.org. The new website will, among other things, provide an exclusive portal with links to special resources for employees of NAATBatt member firms. Registration by those employees is necessary to access the private portion of the new website. So please keep an eye on this newsletter and NAATBatt's LinkedIn posts for details on how members can access the new member portal. NAATBatt 2026 meeting in Tucson will include a short tutorial about how to use new website and portal. NAATBatt members are going to like the new resources it provides. You will hear more about NAATBatt's plans and the new resources available to NAATBatt members at the NAATBatt 2026 meeting in Tucson next month.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?? JOIN ONE OR MORE NAATBATT DISCUSSION COMMITTEES

NAATBatt has 18 active discussion committees, offering NAATBatt members a way to hear about new developments in 18 different sectors of the advanced battery industry. And here's the kicker: It costs nothing to join a NAATBatt committee! Just sign up here. NAATBatt discussion committees are the new "water cooler" of the North American advanced battery industry: the place to hear the scuttlebutt about what is really going on.

Upcoming Meetings:

• January 27, 8:00 a.m. PT | 11:00 a.m. ET – ESS & Data Centers Committee

New Members

NAATBatt welcomes Platinum member Intertek Testing Services, a global Total Quality Assurance provider with over 130 years of innovation. Intertek delivers industry-leading battery testing, energy storage, and lifecycle evaluation services to ensure safety, performance, reliability, and sustainability. From R&D and design validation to certification and post-mortem analysis, Intertek supports all battery chemistries and applications worldwide—from button cells and portable electronics to hybrid and electric vehicle batteries and large-scale stationary energy storage systems (ESS). Learn more at https://intertek.com

NAATBatt welcomes Silver member Graphene Manufacturing Group Ltd (GMG). GMG is an Australian clean-technology company developing energy-saving and energy-storage solutions enabled by graphene produced in-house from natural gas. Its proprietary process delivers high-quality, scalable, low-cost graphene. GMG’s focus includes commercial scale-up, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC-R) energy-saving coatings, graphene lubricant additives, and advanced battery technologies, including aluminium-ion and lithium-ion enhancements. Learn more at https://www.graphenemg.com/

NAATBatt welcomes Silver member TERREPOWER. With more than 35 years of experience, TERREPOWER, formerly BBB Industries, is a recognized leader in sustainable manufacturing. The company advances the circular economy by remanufacturing and extending the life of essential automotive components, reducing waste and conserving resources across the industry. Learn more at https://TERREPOWER.com

NAATBatt welcomes Public Benefit member Binghamton University, a world-class institution and highly regarded R1 research university, Binghamton is one of four research university centers in the State University of New York (SUNY) system. Renowned for the excellence of its students, faculty, staff, and academic programs, Binghamton is recognized as SUNY’s most selective and prestigious university and the best public university in the Northeast. Learn more at https://www.binghamton.edu/

Member Press Releases

Titan Lithium Industries Ltd (UAE-based) has signed a multi-year supply framework agreement with Mercedes-Benz AG to supply battery-grade lithium for the automaker’s global electric-vehicle portfolio valued at over US$300 million (AED1.1 billion).

Click here for the news release.

6K Additive announced that it has been selected as the strategic metal powder supplier for AGF Defcom. This partnership focuses on providing high-performance metal powders for AGF Defcom's additive manufacturing (3D printing) of suppressors. 

Click here for the full news release.

XC Technology and Photon Automation announced a strategic collaboration to power new energy and battery storage manufacturing solutions through Photon Energy (Photon Automation’s newly established subsidiary). 

Click here for the full news release.

NAATBatt members interested in publishing press releases about developments at their companies in this section of the newsletter should send their releases by e-mail to Vivian Yu at NAATBatt by Thursday of each week.

Committee Pulse

From Source to System: Advancing Battery Traceability for Defense Applications

The Military Batteries Committee met on January 15, 2026 and explored practical approaches to battery supply chain traceability and regulatory compliance, with a focus on scalable solutions for complex, global material flows.

Bill Zierolf, Sales Director for North America for Circulor, provided an overview of the organization’s platform that is designed to deliver end-to-end materials traceability - particularly for batteries. The platform supports compliance with evolving regulations such as the EU Battery Regulation (EUBR), the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), and Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) requirements by tracking material provenance and creating digital “twins” of material flows.

Zieroff described how the platform enables the creation of battery passports with unique identifiers linked to vehicle identification numbers (VINs) for government filings, along with QR codes that provide both technical data and consumer-facing information. The company works with major OEMs and battery manufacturers and brings experience from conflict-minerals tracking into the battery space.

The discussion also covered supply chain traceability software, including digital product passports and the use of blockchain technology. Implementation typically spans six to nine months and involves collaboration with systems integrators and upstream suppliers to address data collection and privacy considerations. Multiple levels of engagement are available, ranging from high-level supply chain mapping to full material flow tracking, allowing organizations to start with specific compliance priorities such as FEOC.

Committee members discussed challenges related to mixed materials in supply chains, with Zieroff noting that mass-balance calculations can be used to appropriately track and label materials within digital passports. Participants also explored how lower-cost supply chain mapping can help identify potential compliance risks, support incident investigations, and assist auditors in verifying labor and material sourcing.

Want a front-row seat to future presentations from industry subject-matter experts? Join the Military Batteries Committee and stay engaged in timely discussions shaping the future of military battery technologies. Sign up here.

Li-Bridge Corner

Advancing Battery Traceability: Li-Bridge and SAE International Launch SAE J3327 Standard

Li-Bridge recently hosted a government-only workshop on traceability and the impact of reliable data from raw material extraction through end-of-life on supply chain efficiency, transparency, and resilience.

Over the past year, Li-Bridge and SAE International have been developing a standard to advance the energy storage industry through traceability: SAE J3327. Published in September 2025, the standard establishes a procedure for identifying, collecting, and recording critical data about an EV battery, with a focus on the extraction, processing, and manufacturing of critical minerals. It aligns with the EU Digital Product Passport requirements for batteries (set to take effect in 2027) and complies with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service Section 45X Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit for battery manufacturers. The result is a globally consistent set of procedures that the battery supply chain can follow, including applications in grid storage and defense.

We need pilot partners! Li-Bridge is seeking industry partners across all parts of the battery supply chain to pilot the standard and contribute to its development, helping to advance the goals of the industry. For more information, please contact David Roberts at david.roberts@libridge.org or Frank Menchaca at frankmenchaca8561@gmail.com.

Advanced Battery Industry News

Titan Lithium Industries (UAE-based) has signed a $300 million (AED1.1 billion) multi-year supply framework agreement with Mercedes-Benz AG to supply battery-grade lithium. The refinery located in Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi utilizes clean energy sources to produce lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide. Commercial supply under the agreement is expected to commence in 2028. (Source: Emirates News Agency)

Trina Storage (business unit of Trinasolar) has signed a 250MW/1,000 MWh (megawatt-hour) battery energy storage project in located in Rondissone in the Turin area of Italy with Aer Soléir (Dublin-based). The project was awarded under Italy's Capacity Market auction for 2027 deliveries. (Source: Trinasolar) 

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) plans to establish a standalone bus company in Kawasaki, Japan, with Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn), building on an existing MOU between their subsidiaries (Mitsubishi Fuso Bus Manufacturing and Foxtron Vehicle Technologies) to develop and commercialize zero-emission buses, starting with Foxtron’s Model T and Model U; the venture will combine FUSO’s bus development and manufacturing expertise with Foxconn’s technology, with buses developed and produced at the Toyama plant under the FUSO name. The company is expected to be established in 2H26. (Source: Foxconn) 

The U.S. Department of Energy is restructuring or eliminating nearly $84 billion in clean energy projects funded during the prior administration. (Source: Reuters, DOE)

Peregrine Energy Solutions is planning to build a $400 million battery energy storage facility in East Texas. Construction is expected to begin in 2027 with operations slated to begin in 2028. (Source: KTAL News)

X-energy Reactor and SGL Carbon announced a 10-year graphite supply agreement for X-energy’s Xe-100 small modular reactor. The agreement includes an initial 3-year award valued at over $100 million for X-energy’s first commercial deployment. The commitments support the company’s execution of 11 GW (gigawatt) commercial pipeline. (Source: X-energy)

GoodEnough Energy has commenced operations at a 7GWh (gigawatt-hour) battery energy storage system (BESS) manufacturing facility at Noida in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The company plans to increase this capacity to 25GWh over the next 3 years. (Source: Power Technology)

Lifthium Energy (Portugal-based) has signed a contract with the State, under the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework scheme, led by AICEP, relating to the industrial project in Estarreja. The contract provides for an incentive of €180 million ($211 million) to support the construction of a lithium refinery in Portugal. (Source: Lifthium)

Cabot announced it has signed a multi-year supply agreement with PowerCo SE. Under the agreement, Cabot will supply its conductive carbons and conductive dispersions for use in EV batteries electrodes. (Source: Cabot)

Talga Group has executed a development agreement with V4Smart (co-owned by Porsche and Varta Group). Under the agreement, the companies will develop Talga’s graphite anode for integration into fast-charging battery cells. (Source: Talga Group) 

Canada is seeking joint ventures (JVs) and investments with Chinese companies within the next 3 years to build a Canadian electric vehicle (EV) with Chinese knowledge. The country’s objective is to be the 1st country in North America to build this type of EV. (Source: CBC)

Chery announced plans to equip its EVs with solid-state batteries this year on its ‘Liefeng’ vehicle which has a range of 1.500 kilometers (932 miles) in -30 degrees C temperature. (Source: Car News China)

Syrah Resources has reached an agreement with Tesla to amend the cure date for an alleged default under their offtake agreement covering active anode material production at Syrah’s Vidalia facility in Louisiana. The revised cure deadline has been pushed to March 16, 2026 (from back from January 16, 2026) (Source: Syrah Resources) 

Envision Energy announced a Joint Development Agreement with Samruk-Kazyna Invest (investment arm of Kazakhstan's sovereign wealth fund) for the local production of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Central Asia. (Source: Envision Energy)

PowerBank announced that it has executed a lease agreement on a 5MW (megawatt) AC hybrid solar plus battery energy storage project known as the NY-Sapbush project in New York. The project is expected to be eligible for incentives under the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority NY-Sun and Retail Energy Storage Incentive Programs. (Source: PowerBank)

UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure announced plans to form a JV with BEEAH and LOHUM (India-based) building on an earlier collaboration agreement between BEEAH and LOHUM to bring lithium-ion battery recycling to the UAE. (Source: Trade Arabia)

Applied Digital announced it has broken ground on the AI ‘Delta Forge 1’ factory campus located in a southern U.S. market. The campus is designed to support an initial 430MW of total utility power, enabling up to 300MW of critical IT load with the ability to scale. Initial operations at Delta Forge 1 are expected to commence in mid-2027. (Source: Applied Digital)

SUNOTEC Germany has been commissioned by the SEAC Group to deliver the 1st construction phase of a BESS programme in Germany that has a planned total capacity of up to 230MWh. The rollout of the storage programme is planned for completion by 2028. (Source: Sunotec)

Lyten announced its expansion into the concrete market with the launch of Lyten S Cure™, which has been engineered to provide performance benefits without requiring changes to existing production processes or compromising on cost. S Cure is powered by nanomaterials, including Lyten 3D Graphene™, a tunable supermaterial platform originally developed for high-energy-density lithium-sulfur batteries and now deployed across multiple industrial applications. (Source: Lyten) 

Full Circle Lithium (FCL) announced the launch of 6 lithium-ion fire extinguishers sizes, including four retail-focused models (20 ounces, 1 litre, 2 litre and 3 litre) and two industrial-size units (30 litre and 50 litre). (Source: FCL)

The Democratic Republic of Congo has sent Washington a shortlist of state-owned assets - including manganese, copper-cobalt, gold and lithium projects - for U.S. investors to consider as part of a minerals partnership. (Source: Reuters)

Executive Director's Notes

Advertisements and Announcements

Call for Nominations: 2027 Bower Award in Science

The Franklin Institute is now accepting nominations for the 2027 Bower Award and Prize for Achievement in Science, recognizing outstanding contributions from members of the international science and engineering community.

2027 Theme: Innovative Chemistry for Better Batteries

The award honors groundbreaking chemical innovations that advance battery technologies, including (but not limited to): •Solid-state batteries •Novel electrode materials •Alternatives to lithium-ion chemistry

Prize: $250,000 USD and a 14-karat gold medal

Nomination Deadline: June 1, 2026

Questions may be directed to Beth Scheraga, Director of The Franklin Institute Awards, at bscheraga@fi.edu.

Click here for the complete award criteria and nomination instructions.