JOIN THE NAATBatt DELEGATION AT INTERBATTERY 2026 IN SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA

COEX Convention Center | March 11–13, 2025

InterBattery is Korea’s premier battery exhibition, convening global leaders, innovators, and investors across energy storage, EVs, and advanced battery technologies. NAATBatt will host a curated delegation, offering members exclusive access, increased visibility, and high-value connections in one of the world’s most influential battery markets.

As part of the delegation, participants will be invited to a U.S. Battery Forum, a full-day convening with U.S. and Korean companies, the U.S. Embassy, and key economic development stakeholders. The forum is designed to foster strategic collaboration on battery supply chains, with a particular focus on defense and national security applications, providing U.S. battery companies a rare opportunity to engage directly with Korean partners aligned with defense-related manufacturing, materials, and technology priorities.

With limited spots available, this delegation is ideal for U.S. battery companies looking to deepen partnerships in Korea and position themselves within critical, defense-relevant supply chains.

Click here to register.

NAATBatt 2026 Recycling & Lifecycle Management Workshop

NAATBatt will hold its 9th annual workshop on lithium battery recycling and lifecycle management on July 7-8, 2026, at Michigan State University's MEC Center in Troy, Michigan. The workshop will examine the technologies, business models and economic challenges involved in recycling and reusing lithium batteries in North America. Building a secure supply chain of battery materials in North America may ultimately depend heavily on the "urban mining" of battery materials. Learn about the prospects for lithium battery recycling and reuse in North America and meet the companies and experts that are already doing business in this sector. Watch this newsletter for additional information about the 2026 Recycling & Lifecycle Management Workshop and for the opening of registration for it.

Affordable Power Conference & Expo: Innovative Energy Storage for Grids & Data Center

NAATBatt and NY-BEST are partnering on a new conference and expo focused on the energy storage and power generation needs of data centers and grid operators. Affordable Power Conference & Expo: Innovative Energy Storage for Grids & Data Centers will be held on November 3-5, 2026 at the On Center in Syracuse, New York. The Expo will be a free-to-attend event offering companies providing energy storage and energy generation products to data centers and other microgrids the opportunity to highlight their expertise and meet potential customers. The Expo will be co-located with a conference discussing the policy drivers, economics, and innovative new energy technologies shaping this rapidly growing market. Watch this newsletter for more information about this program and for a link to the exhibitor prospectus.

NAATBatt 2027 Annual Meeting & Conference

It is not too early to start planning for NAATBatt 2027. NAATBatt 2027, the 18th annual meeting of NAATBatt International, be held on February 8–11, 2027, at the Westin Rancho Mirage in Rancho Mirage, California, just outside Palm Springs. The NAATBatt annual meeting features presentations by leading consulting firms and market analysts about various sectors of the battery market, in-person meetings of all 18 NAATBatt communities/committees, short Member Update Presentations by NAATBatt member firms, and simply the best networking available anywhere in the North American advanced battery industry. Mark your calendar and watch this newsletter for updates about NAATBatt 2027.

NAATBatt Lithium-Ion Battery Supply Chain Database

The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), formerly the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), has released a major update to the NAATBatt Lithium-Ion Battery Supply Chain Database. Developed in collaboration with Avicenne Energy US, the enhanced edition expands coverage to 1,178 facilities and 1,022 companies across North America. New features include real-time production data, detailed construction timelines, and expanded tracking of upstream, midstream, downstream, and recycling activities. The database is available through an online interface or as an Excel download to support strategic planning.

First launched in 2021, the database remains the most comprehensive directory of North American lithium-based battery companies, organized by product line and including suppliers of goods and services used in battery production. The February 2025 update added NAATBatt member professional service providers serving the industry. Updated twice yearly, the database allows companies to submit additions, corrections, or requests for inclusion directly to NLR.

New NAATBatt Website

NAATBatt’s new website is now live! Visit us at: www.naatbatt.org. Certain information and resources are available exclusively to members, and an account is required to access this content. Employees of all NAATBatt member firms should register to gain entry to the private member portal. The portal contains links to special resources and tools. For a guide on how to register and take advantage of this new NAATBatt member only resource, go to: https://www.naatbatt.org/blog/welcome-to-the-new-naatbatt-website

NAATBatt Communities

NAATBatt has 18 active subject matter committees/communities, 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 and participate in the community discussions. Just sign up here. NAATBatt subject matter communities are the new "water cooler" of the North American advanced battery industry: the place to hear the scuttlebutt about what is really going on. It makes no sense not to join.

Upcoming Meetings:

• March 12, 11:00 a.m. PT | 2:00 p.m. ET – Workforce Development (Education) Community

Member Press Releases

6K Additive has signed a supply agreement under which Siemens Energy will supply spent nickel alloy powder from its additive manufacturing facilities to the company for use as feedstock in its UniMelt® microwave plasma production system. To date, 6K Additive has processed close to 20 tons of nickel superalloy powder originating from Siemens Energy.

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.

Community Pulse: This Week's Activities of NAATBatt Committees

Grid Law, AI, and the Future of Data Centers

At the ESS & Data Center Community meeting at the NAATBatt Annual Conference, industry experts explored how rapid AI growth is reshaping data center design, power strategy, and energy storage deployment. The central message: Power availability - not computing capability - is now defining AI expansion. As presenter Paul Charles of Charles and Associates described it, the industry has entered an era where power delivery timelines determine the pace of innovation.

AI-driven workloads are transforming data center requirements. Unlike traditional cloud operations, AI infrastructure demands far higher power density per rack, faster response times, and new architectures that integrate energy storage and microgrids directly into facility design. Global data center energy demand is expected to double, with U.S. demand potentially rising from 3% of total electricity consumption today to 9% by 2030. 

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are shifting from backup solutions to essential infrastructure. Behind-the-meter systems are emerging as a critical bridge, enabling faster deployment while utilities work through interconnection delays. Layered power approaches - combining site-level storage, UPS systems, and rack-level batteries - are becoming central to reliability and resilience. 

Safety and system design were also key themes, as increasing lithium-ion adoption drives greater focus on monitoring, risk management, and architecture-based solutions. The session emphasized that reliability today is achieved through integrated system design rather than individual devices. 

Key takeaway for attendees: AI and energy infrastructure are now inseparable, creating growing opportunities for the battery industry to shape how power is delivered, managed, and secured across the evolving digital landscape.

Members interested in joining the ESS and Data Center Community - or any other NAATBatt community - are encouraged to click this link to get involved and participate in upcoming discussions.

Li-Bridge Corner

Battery Markets Accelerate Amid Tariff Reset and Policy Uncertainty

The battery sector remains highly dynamic, with record grid-scale storage deployments in 2025 and strong momentum heading into 2026, despite ongoing federal policy shifts.

On February 20, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6–3 ruling that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize the President to impose tariffs. The decision invalidates broad “emergency” tariffs tied to drug trafficking and trade deficits, cutting average effective import rates from roughly 16.9% to 9.1%.

For the battery industry, the impact is immediate: lower duties on imported components reduce cost pressures for energy storage and EV manufacturing, supporting project economics and consumer affordability. Grid-scale storage is particularly well positioned, with analysts projecting 21% U.S. growth in 2026, driven in part by accelerating data center electricity demand.

Uncertainty remains. Section 232 and Section 301 tariffs on materials including steel, aluminum, lithium, and cobalt stay in effect. The administration has imposed a temporary 10–15% global surcharge under Section 122 (capped at 150 days) and is reportedly considering new Section 232 probes targeting large-scale batteries and related sectors. In the near term, refund processing through the U.S. Court of International Trade may also create supply chain volatility.

At the same time, federal funding continues to flow. The Department of Energy recently awarded $117 million for battery materials processing as part of more than $16 billion in critical minerals support since 2023 under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Additional bipartisan legislation aims to strengthen oversight of battery supply chains.

Federal policies now blend tariff relief with lingering restrictions and grants, accelerating grid-scale and data-center-driven growth while challenging full EV supply chains amid uncertainty and potential new duties. Innovation in domestic recycling, processing, and grid integration may help hedge against economic swings.

If you would like to stay in touch regarding these and other issues facing the industry and government, please feel free to reach out at david.roberts@libridge.org

Advanced Battery Industry News

SK On has signed a supply deal with Posco Holdings to secure up to 25,000 tons of lithium. Under the agreement, lithium will be sourced from Posco Argentina’s salt lake operations in the Hombre Muerto region. The lithium is expected to be used in SK On’s electric vehicle (EV) battery projects across Europe and North America. (Source: The Korea Herald)

Amazon announced plans to invest $12 billion to construct center campuses that will support cloud computing technologies. The development represents a multi-site investment across Caddo and Bossier Parishes in Louisiana. (Source: Amazon News)

Xcel Energy announced it will power a Google data center in Pine Island, Minnesota. As part of the agreement, Xcel and Google are partnering to bring 1,900MW (megawatts) of clean energy to the grid. A Clean Energy Accelerator Charge will provide for 1,400MW of wind, 200MW of solar and 30GWh iron-air battery from Form Energy. (Source: Xcel Energy)

Fotowatio Renewable Ventures, part of Jameel Energy (Saudi Arabia-based), has developed over 1.2GW/5GWh of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Spain. The BESS are expected to reach “Ready to Build” status between 2026 and 2027. The overall portfolio of projects is concentrated in 4 communities: Extremadura, Andalusia, Catalonia and Cantabria. (Source: Abdul Latif Jameel)

6K Additive (6KA) has signed a supply agreement under which Siemens Energy will supply spent nickel alloy powder from its additive manufacturing facilities to the company for use as feedstock in its UniMelt® microwave plasma production system. To date, 6K Additive has processed close to 20 tons of nickel superalloy powder originating from Siemens Energy. (Source: 6KA)

Ampere (EV and software entity from Renault Group) has entered into a joint development agreement with Basquevolt for the development of lithium metal-based batteries. The collaboration could result in approximately 30% lower capital investment per GWh in a conventional gigafactory and 30% less energy used per kWh produced. (Source: Renault Group)

Georgia Power and Alabama Power (subsidiaries of Southern Company) have received a 30-year term loan package of up to $26.54 billion from the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Dominance Financing, which represents an investment into energy infrastructure and grid reliability. The investments include power from natural gas, nuclear uprates and license extensions, hydropower and battery energy storage. (Source: Southern Company)

Aqua Metals announced the execution of a 3-year material supply agreement with 6K Energy to establish a commercial framework for the supply of battery-grade nickel metal and lithium carbonate produced using its AquaRefining™ process. The agreement contemplates material volumes that could represent tens of millions of dollars in annual battery-materials value. (Source: Aqua Metals)

Glencore has agreed to buy nearly 2,000 metric tons of cobalt worth almost $115 million from Rami Weisfisch. The company is expected to sell cobalt to the U.S. as part of Project Vault. Weisfisch reached an agreement with Glencore after the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency canceled a cobalt tender in October of last year. (Source: OE Energy News)

Siemens and Mescada will deploy an AI-ready, cloud-based SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems in the renewable energy sector for Global Power Generation Australia, which has a GW of installed capacity operational wind, hybrid solar/ storage farms and standalone BESS in Australia. (Source: Siemens)

Nouveau Monde Graphite (NMG) has acquired the brownfield site and industrial facilities adjacent to its greenfield site in Bécancour, Québec enabling the company to deploy the 1st stage of its refining operations to fulfill Panasonic Energy’s 13,000 tonnes per-annum active anode material offtake. (Source: NMG)

EVSX (St-Georges Eco-Mining subsidiary) has entered into a joint venture with Voltrinov, to jointly evaluate end-of-life EV and micromobility batteries for repurposing or for processing and recycling. (Source: St-Georges Eco-Mining)

Orion Energy Systems announced the introduction of a localized battery energy storage system that enables facilities to minimize cost and maximize efficiency by drawing on stored solar energy. BESS deployments are commencing at the first three sites of a 10-site deployment in California. (Source: Orion Energy Systems)

Zimbabwe has suspended exports of all raw minerals and lithium concentrates, including all minerals “currently in transit” with immediate ⁠effect until further notice. The export ban on lithium concentrates had originally been scheduled to come into effect in January 2027, a deadline the government hoped would push mining companies to begin processing and refining the mineral locally. (Source: Al Jazeera)

Over 1,000 companies have filed suit in the U.S. Court of International Trade in efforts to recoup costs from the illegal tariffs: including FedEx, Costco and Revlon. Most of the lawsuits were already in process ahead of the Supreme Court decision on February 20,2026. The Treasury has collected over $133 billion from the import taxes has imposed under the emergency powers law as of December. (Source: AP News)  

Oletra GreenTech has received a letter of intent for 1,085 electric buses (ebuses) from the Telangana State Road Transport through EV Trans Private Limited and is part of the PM E-Drive initiative led by Convergence Energy Services. The ebuses will operate in Hyderabad. (Source: MSN) 

BYD and Azienda Trasporti Verona (ATV) have partnered to bring 34 ebuses into service on the urban network. The B12 vehicles have a range of 530 kilometers (329 miles). (Source: Veronaeconomia)

EnergyHub and Rivian announced a partnership to expand access to utility EV programs for Rivian drivers across North America. (Source: EnergyHub)

Toyota Motor North America has partnered with Treehouse (software-enabled operating system for electrification programs) for home EV charger purchases and installations. (Source: Toyota)

Volvo Cars will recall over 40,000 of its electric EX30 SUVs due to the risk of battery packs overheating.(Source: Reuters)

Samsung SDI announced that it has developed a fluorine-based polymer gel electrolyte formulation that improves lifespan and safety of lithium-metal batteries. The breakthrough was achieved through a joint research project involving SDI R&D America and Columbia University. Lithium metal batteries provide over 1.6x the energy density of conventional NCA lithium-ion batteries. (Source: Samsung)

Volkswagen Group's Lamborghini is pulling the plug on its upcoming ‘Landzor’ luxury EV. The car was initially slated for a 2028 release but had been pushed back numerous times. (Source: Yahoo Finance)

Source: CRU Group

Executive Director's Notes

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