Altech Batteries advances CERENERGY prototypes with strong results

Altech Batteries (ASX: ATC) has taken another step toward commercialisation of its CERENERGY sodium nickel chloride battery technology, reporting milestone results from both cell and pack level prototypes.

The company confirmed that prototype cells have completed more than 650 charge and discharge cycles with no detectable capacity loss. For context, conventional batteries typically degrade gradually with each cycle. The performance points to a long operational life, which is vital for grid scale and renewable storage where reliability and cost of ownership matter most.

Efficiency was another standout. The cells achieved almost 100 percent Coulombic efficiency and up to 92 percent energy efficiency, well above the 70 to 80 percent levels common in competing technologies. Abuse testing also showed resilience under extreme conditions, including overcharging, deep discharge and thermal cycling up to 300 degrees Celsius, with no signs of leakage or rupture.

The first ABS60 battery pack prototype, a 60 kilowatt hour system, was validated under real world operating conditions. Testing across diverse load profiles and high current pulses showed stable performance with around 88 percent round trip efficiency and no observable capacity fade across more than 110 cycles. That durability indicates fewer replacements and lower costs for operators.

Managing director Iggy Tan said the results confirmed CERENERGY’s readiness for market adoption. “Demonstrating long cycle life, high efficiency and unmatched safety, we are strongly positioned to deliver a competitive and sustainable alternative for grid and industrial energy storage,” he said.

CERENERGY is being developed in partnership with Fraunhofer IKTS in Germany, with plans for a 120 megawatt hour production facility in Saxony. Unlike lithium ion batteries, the technology avoids flammable electrolytes and uses abundant materials such as table salt, eliminating exposure to volatile critical metal prices.

For Altech, the milestone results put CERENERGY in a competitive class and strengthen its case as a safer, more sustainable solution for the growing renewable energy storage market.