Press release: Clean technology firm Aceleron to receive share of Government’s investment to drive green innovation

In a bid to boost ‘green innovation’ across the UK and help businesses to reduce their carbon emissions, the UK Government has identified projects that are developing new technologies to increase energy efficiency - including providing cleaner ways to generate power and heat.

Aceleron, who launched their unique circular economy lithium-ion battery earlier this year has secured an investment of £927,426 to go towards ‘Project BATLAB’ as part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Energy Entrepreneurs Fund.

This project will see a more sustainable build process for batteries in the UK market, where everything needed for the entire life cycle of the battery, from first life to repurposing, will be available in the same environment where it was originally built. The project will also develop the ability to repurpose EV battery packs within the facility. Aspire Engineering, Venture Engineering and University College London will work as collaborative partners to develop this novel facility.

Carlton Cummins, co-founder and Chief Technical Officer explains; “One of the key barriers to a sustainable battery is trying to extract more value from it before moving it on to a second life.  

“We want to create a ‘containerised facility,’ where all the equipment, tooling and components to build, repair, upgrade and, in some cases, monitor every battery arrives and stays in one place. The same equipment will then be available, in its container, for servicing, repairing and eventually deconstructing the battery throughout its entire life cycle. Once the battery has come to the end of its life, the waste can be returned to its origins for repurposing.

“We still have a lot to learn on the concept but we have the people and the business model ready to develop it into a workable solution that will address the inherent waste of resources in the life cycle of most batteries today.

“At a time when the world’s focus is on energy storage, this funding will enable us to move the battery industry forward and reduce the harmful impact of batteries on the environment.”

Ian Briggs from Aspire Engineering added: “We are delighted to be working alongside our customer, Aceleron, and partners on this exciting project. We will be able to showcase our expertise in designing and implementing custom automation to deliver the BATLAB project - which will be supported by our green credentials, providing circular economy solutions to enhance the project deliverables.”

Adrian Perkins of Venture Engineering commented: “As a mechanical and electrical design and manufacturing company used to working in the Automotive space, we look forward to using our skills and experience to help deliver a successful concept demonstrator for Aceleron and BEIS.” 

Dr James Robinson, from the Electrochemical Innovation Lab (EIL) at UCL will also be involved in the project, stating: “The team at the EIL is excited to be working with Aceleron and the other partners to develop BATLAB and is looking forward to translating our existing lab-based expertise into a commercial setting.  Our work together will drastically improve the circular economy for batteries.” 

The funding will be made available from Dec 2021 to Nov 22 to fund the Project BATLAB work which Aceleron and the collaboration partners began at the beginning of this month.