en.Wedoany.com Reported - Integrals Power will supply its patented lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) cathode active material with high manganese content for the European OLiMPUS project. The project, totaling €9 million under the Horizon Europe program, aims to leverage the European supply chain to develop and industrialize low-cost, safe, and sustainable LMFP battery cells.
Upon completion, the goal is to achieve large-scale production of LMFP cells in Europe by 2032, primarily for the electric vehicle and maritime industries. The project is coordinated by the Norwegian research institute SINTEF and brings together 16 partners across the entire battery value chain, including Volvo Trucks, Magna Steyr, cell manufacturer Verkor, synthetic graphite anode supplier Vianode, and maritime energy storage specialist Corvus Energy.
In addition to producing and supplying over 150 kilograms of LMFP cathode active material, Integrals Power's tasks include scaling up and industrializing the manufacturing process, as well as assisting with cell prototyping and performance validation. The project will run until 2030, with plans to produce over 130 automotive-grade cells in both pouch and prismatic formats at SINTEF's pilot line and Verkor's gigafactory, with capacities ranging from 10Ah to 80Ah and a target energy density of 220Wh/kg.
Sustainability is another key indicator for the project. The production process uses water as a solvent to replace toxic and flammable NMP, the semi-dry electrode coating process consumes significantly less energy during the drying stage compared to traditional wet slurry processes, and the use of synthetic graphite in the anode helps reduce the overall carbon footprint. Compared to the benchmark nickel-cobalt-manganese chemistry NMC811, the OLiMPUS project is expected to reduce lifecycle CO2 equivalent emissions by approximately 1.8 million tons by 2050.
Behnam Hormozi, founder and CEO of Integrals Power, stated that participation in this project proves that its patented LMFP technology is a key enabler for building sovereign battery capabilities in the UK and Europe. Third-party testing has already demonstrated the technology's high energy density, long cycle life, and good low-temperature performance. The project will build on this to optimize materials and processes for mass production. He believes that the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy relies on a robust, transparent, and sustainable battery supply chain, and the OLiMPUS project is laying the foundation for this.
Integrals Power's LMFP material has a manganese content of up to 80%, offering up to a 20% increase in energy density compared to traditional LFP, while retaining advantages in cost, safety, and long cycle life. Since it contains no expensive nickel or cobalt, the material serves as a strong alternative to NMC chemistry, which remains the primary cell chemistry used by European and North American automakers for electric vehicles.
In terms of cost, the OLiMPUS project estimates cell-level costs at €56 to €65/kWh and battery pack-level costs at €67 to €75/kWh. For comparison, some Chinese manufacturers have LFP battery pack-level costs around €64/kWh and NMC around €82/kWh. China currently dominates the global battery market for both LFP and NMC chemistries. Establishing LMFP chemistry production in Europe will offer the industry seeking alternatives to the Chinese supply chain a solution that delivers required performance at an affordable cost.
Target applications for OLiMPUS cells include electric vehicles, shipping, and other sectors. The maritime industry faces decarbonization pressure, with the global fleet largely reliant on fossil fuels, consuming approximately 5% of the world's total oil annually. Battery-electric propulsion is suitable for various vessel types, and the characteristics of LMFP are considered appropriate as a cell chemistry for this field. Beyond maritime and automotive, defense and grid-scale energy storage are also key application markets for Integrals Power's LMFP and LFP cathode active materials.
