Register Now for NAATBatt 2026! 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 annual meeting and conference is the principal program at NAATBatt each year. The coming 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.

NAATBatt recently announced that Joern Tinnemeyer, Vice President Data Center Engineering at Amazon, will give the keynote speech at NAATBatt 2025. If you are interested in hearing from the largest operator of hyperscale data centers in the world about exactly what types of energy storage it is looking for, and why, you need to attend NAATBatt 2026.

Other expert panels presenting at NAATBatt 2026 will focus on raising capital in the advanced battery industry, securing supply chains for graphite, manganese and LFP, tracking and tracing requirements for lithium batteries in the U.S. and EU, and training the battery workforce. Leading market analysts will also present their forecasts for various sectors of the advanced battery market in 2026.

And of course, the networking. This year NAATBatt is bringing back the clay shooting competition to accompany the annual golf tournament. Your choice what kind of shooting you want to do, golf balls or clays. 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. Don't miss it. For more information and to register, go to: https://nac.naatbatt.org/nac2026 .

Remember: Early registrants get priority in time assignment for their Member Update Presentations over later registrants of the same membership class. So don't delay. Register and make your hotel reservation soon!

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, at https://naatbatt.org/join-a-committee/. 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".

On September 29, 2025, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released the latest update of the NAATBatt Lithium-Ion Battery Supply Chain Database. This newly enhanced edition marks a significant upgrade from the February 17, 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 NREL. 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.

Exciting news! NAATBatt’s new website will be launching soon. 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 will be necessary to access the private portion of the new website. So please keep an eye on this newsletter and NAATBatt's LinkedIn posts for the official launch date and details on how members can access the new member portal. Stay tuned!

Reignite Your Engagement and Supplement Your Knowledge: Join a NAATBatt Committee Now!

Serving on a NAATBatt committee is one of the most impactful ways to contribute to the growth of the advanced battery industry while deepening your own professional development. Whether you are interested in policy, safety, workforce, recycling, or other key segments of the industry, NAATBatt's 18 active discussion committees offer a front-row seat to important industry developments and initiatives that will shape the future of battery technology and energy storage.

Joining a committee opens doors to meaningful networking and collaboration with peers, potential customers, and thought leaders across the battery ecosystem. You will gain early insights into industry trends, help guide programming and reports, and contribute to shaping NAATBatt’s direction. It is a rewarding way to engage with new and old colleagues and to make a tangible impact in the battery industry.

Find your fit - view NAATBatt's active discussion committees and join one or more of them today: https://naatbatt.org/join-a-committee/. If your employer is a NAATBatt member, there is no cost to join.

Upcoming Meetings:

• December 17, 11:00 a.m. PT | 2:00 p.m. ET – Zinc Battery Committee
• December 18, 11:00 a.m. PT | 2:00 p.m. ET – Workforce Development (Education) Committee
• December 18, 11:30 a.m. PT | 2:30 p.m. ET – Cybersecurity Committee
• December 18, 1:00 p.m. PT | 4:00 p.m. ET – Battery Safety Committee
• December 19, 9:00 a.m. PT | 12:00 p.m. ET – Equipment Makers Committee

New Members

NAATBatt welcomes Silver member 3M. 3M takes pride in having a team that constantly learns from its customers’ real-world experiences and applies that knowledge to help employers across a range of industries. This experience has the potential to help companies uncover new ways to protect workers’ health and safety. For more information about 3M, visit https://3m.com.

NAATBatt welcomes Silver member Pale Blue Earth, Inc. (Pale Blue), a global leader providing next-generation, high-performance rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that outperform traditional single-use alkaline cells in convenience, reliability, and value. Pale Blue also collaborates with the Defense Innovation Unit and the Army Development Command to advance new standard battery formats. Visit www.paleblueearth.com for more information.

Members Press Releases

ZincFive® has been named a multi-category winner in the 2025 Power Technology Excellence Awards, an independent GlobalData-powered program that recognizes leading innovators in the global power sector. The company earned honors in four categories: Innovation, Product Launch, Safety, and Environmental Excellence.

Click here to read 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

Exploring the Future of Sodium Batteries: Key Insights from the Committee’s December Discussion

The Sodium Battery Committee’s recent meeting offered a forward-looking exploration of sodium-ion batteries and the broader landscape of emerging storage technologies. Co-Chairs Heather Platt and Erik Spoerke opened the session with reflections from NAATBatt’s recent Sodium-Zinc Battery Workshop featuring numerous industry leaders. One of the most compelling themes: Supply-chain dynamics and cost pressures – much like those seen in the 1920s – may accelerate sodium-ion adoption in today’s low-cost EV market. During the Workshop it was suggested that sodium-ion technology is ready for scaling now, creating both opportunities and competitive pressure in applications traditionally dominated by lithium-ion.

Workshop participants also examined evolving market dynamics. One presenter’s insights underscored how LFP manufacturers are pursuing higher energy density and improved thermal management, while China continues to dominate LFP production. Spoerke noted that China’s lack of sodium-ion export restrictions may reflect the global distribution of raw materials—particularly North America’s strong sodium resource base.

Beyond sodium, Platt highlighted advancements in zinc-based chemistries from another Workshop presentation, especially their promise for data centers and long-duration storage. Spoerke emphasized the rapidly increasing storage demands driven by AI technologies, prompting discussion around fast-response chemistries like zinc-nickel and their performance trade-offs.

A major focus of the meeting was the growing momentum behind U.S.-based sodium-ion manufacturing. Participants discussed shared challenges – capital needs, workforce development, and the value of a shared facility to make large prismatic cells – and agreed to explore producing a white paper aimed at positioning the U.S. industry for future federal investment.

Interested in shaping the future of sodium-ion and emerging chemistries? We welcome new members to join the Committee and contribute to these timely conversations. To join, visit the NAATBatt Committee Sign-Up page and select the “Sodium Battery Committee”.

Li-Bridge Corner

Li-Bridge Hosts Q4 Industry Recap Highlighting DOE Reorganization and Emerging Storage Initiatives

Li-Bridge hosted its Q4 industry recap with participation from members of the Federal Consortium for Advanced Batteries (FCAB). Austin Brown, Director of the Vehicle Technologies Office at the U.S. Department of Energy, presented an overview of the DOE’s new organizational structure, which can be found here.

Under the new structure, many of the offices that industry previously interfaced with are now housed within the larger Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI). This reorganization is intended to improve coordination across key issues in energy storage.

Additional topics included an overview from Sue Babinec, Program Lead for Grid Storage at Argonne National Laboratory, on the PILETS (Pilot Lines for Emerging Energy Storage Technologies) initiative, which focuses on facilities dedicated to emerging non-lithium energy storage technologies. The website for the upcoming PILETS Workshop—scheduled for January 14 in Boston—is now live, and registration is available here.

The first workshop was held at Stanford last September, and this second iteration will build on the insights gained to date.

Be sure to tune in for the Q1 overview in March!

For any questions or comments, please contact Dave Roberts at david.roberts@libridge.org

Advanced Battery Industry News

Samsung SDI America has signed a deal with a U.S. customer to supply prismatic lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for energy storage systems (ESS) over 3 years starting from 2027. The value of this contract is well in excess of KRW 2 trillion (over $1.3 billion). Under the contract, the prismatic LFP cells for ESS are packed in a 20-foot container (named Samsung Battery Box 2.0) and will be produced in the U.S. (Source: Samsung SDI) 

SK On announced it has dissolved the U.S. battery joint venture (JV) BlueOvalSK with Ford Motor. The companies had planned to invest $5.7 billion each (approximately 8.4 trillion Korean won) to build 3 facilities to produce batteries for Ford electric vehicles (EVs). SK On will take over the Tennessee factory that is set to begin operations next year, while Ford will retain the Kentucky Plant 1, which started operations in August. Investment in Kentucky Plant 2 has been suspended. (Source: The Chosun Daily, Ford)

Vena Energy (renewable energy arm of singapore-based Vena Group) has signed a framework supply agreement with CATL. Under the agreement, PT Infrastruktur Terbarukan Sedaya (Vena Energy’s subsidiary) will procure CATL’s EnerX battery energy storage systems (BESS) with a capacity of up to 4 Gigawatt hours (GWh). The batteries will be manufactured locally at CATL’s factory in the Karawang regency in West Java province (Indonesia). (Source: Vena Group)

The United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC), a subsidiary of the United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR), announced 9 requests for proposal information (RFPIs) for the development of battery cells for use in EV applications. USABC is issuing these RFPIs as part of a nearly $90 million cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy, with $60 million in federal funding. (Source: USCAR)

Ford and Renault Group announced a partnership to develop two Ford-branded EVs based on Renault Group’s Ampere platform. The first of the two vehicles is expected in showrooms in early 2028. In addition, the companies have also signed a letter of intent (LOI) for a European light commercial vehicle collaboration. (Source: Ford Motor)

NextEra Energy and Google Cloud announced plans to develop GW-scale data center campuses. In addition, the companies will collaborate to enhance innovations and AI developments to accelerate go to market. The first commercial product is expected to be available in the Google Cloud Marketplace by mid-2026. (Source Nextera Energy and Google Cloud) 

A 500MW/2,000MWh lithium-ion (li-ion) battery plant developed and financed by Tongliao Conch New Energy (subsidiary of Conch Cement Group) is online in Tongliao, Inner Mongolia. The project features LFP battery technology and a 220kV booster substation. Total investment was about CNY 1.5 billion ($213 million). (Source: PV Magazine)

Vena Energy has commenced construction of a 408MWh BESS in Tailem Bend, South Australia. Commissioning is scheduled for 2027. (Source: Vena Group)

LandBridge announced it has entered into development agreements (option to Lease agreements) with subsidiaries of Samsung C&T Renewables for two potential BESS projects in Pecos and Loving counties, Texas with an aggregate capacity of 350MW. The projects could achieve commercial operation as soon as year-end 2028. (Source: LandBridge)

Kyon Energy is partnering with Saft (subsidiary of TotalEnergies) in Dahlem, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany to build a 100MW/203MWh BESS. The plant is scheduled to begin commercial operation in October 2026. (Source: Saft)

Blencowe Resources announced the signing of a 5-year non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Yunasko for natural medium flake concentrate offtake from its Orom-Cross Graphite Project. (Source: Blencowe Resources)

NextNRG has partnered with Florida International University (FIU) to launch wireless EV charging networks. Plans call for a roadway of up to 3 miles in length, equipped with dynamic wireless charging and 24 static wireless charging sites across multiple FIU locations. (Source: NextNRG)

Greenland has granted GreenRoc Mining a 30-year exploitation licence for its Amitsoq graphite project. The Amitsoq project represents high-grade graphite deposits, with an estimated JORC-compliant resource of 23 million tonnes at an average grade of 20.41% graphitic carbon, for a total graphite content of 4.71 million tonnes. (Source: Mining.com)

Titan Mining announced that ore feeding has commenced at its Kilbourne graphite demonstration facility in New York, advancing the project toward first graphite concentrate production. (Source: Titan Mining)

Glencore has exported cobalt under the Democratic Republic of Congo's new quotas, sending a small initial shipment to test the system. Congo cleared Glencore’s shipment this week pending payment of a 10% royalty, marking the beginning of a return to exports after a months-long ban. (Source: Reuters)

A fleet of 288 Zhongtong N7 electric buses has officially entered service with Guangzhou Bus Group. 

(Source: Chinabuses.org)

GRIDSERVE announced the introduction of ABB E-mobility’s A400 kW (kilowatt) charger on the Electric Highway in the U.K. (Source: GRIDSERVE)

Executive Director's Notes

Advertisements and Announcements

Renewance has published a white paper titled Proper Management of ESS Batteries at End of Life: Whose Obligation Is It Anyway? This paper outlines the regulatory obligations for proper end-of-life management and clarifies who bears the responsibility and associated costs.

Read the white paper here