Solithor, a company involved in the development and commercialisation of rechargeable all-solid-state lithium battery technology has joined the Maritime Battery Forum.
Solithor was founded in September 2021 by Huw Hampson-Jones and Dr Fanny Bardé and has been fully operational since early 2022. It is located in Sint-Truiden, Belgium and boasts across critical areas of the battery value chain, including solid-state component production, cell manufacturing, and module production. The company says it is successfully developing breakthrough battery technologies.
In contrast to the energy density of a conventional lithium-ion cell which will stagnate around its practical limit of 800 Wh/L (300 Wh/kg), Solithor’s all-solid-state battery cells are claimed to significantly penetrate the 800Wh/L ceiling. The rechargeable solid-state lithium battery technology is expected to serve as an upgrade to maritime applications. The nano-SCE solid electrolyte aims to eliminate the risk of fire and explosions, while faster charging times can result in a shorter downtime and turnaround.
With an improved energy density, charging speed and, importantly, safety, the company’s innovative technology is anticipated to have an impact on the maritime battery industry. Keeping a focus on sustainability, the technology is environmentally friendly as the batteries can be recycled and reused. The company is committed to sustainable battery production and materials,using no costly rare earth elements such as germanium, no high temperature treatment, and minimal use of solvent and cobalt.
Solithor will initially target maritime markets including yachts, inland water vessels, submersibles and drones, leverage similar technological advantages as those developed for the aviation market with similar power and safety requirements. By joining the Maritime Battery Forum, the company aims to glean knowledge and enhance its understanding of the maritime market’s battery requirements as well as collaborate potentially with pack makers, integrators and/or ship builders.
As a global forum committed to accelerating the adoption of maritime batteries, the MBF community, partners and observers are expected to benefit from regular updates on the development of Solithor’s all-solid-state lithium metal technology as it progresses towards commercialisation.
The Maritime Battery Forum was founded with the aim of promoting new and efficient energy storage technologies in the maritime industry. With over 78 members in three continents, the MBF works to disseminate information, facilitate discussion about and review new technology which is complementary to battery technology-based solutions or in one way or the other play an important role towards a zero-emission vision.
Image: Solithor HQ in Belgium (source: Maritime Battery Forum)
