April Newsletter 2026
- 15 hours ago
- 6 min read
Dear battery enthusiast,
Welcome to Battery Associates’ April newsletter. We have summarised some of the month’s most relevant news, highlighting recent developments and updates in the battery space.
B.A’s Battery Newsletter:
Battery Industry Highlights
Company Member News
Battery Associates' Events & Updates
Join BatteryMBA
Battery Industry Highlights
In this section, we summarise relevant battery news from the past month.
On 8 April 2026, Rock Tech Lithium and BMI Group established an anchor partnership for the Red Rock lithium converter project in Ontario, with BMI committing a planned investment of CAD 200 million (~USD 146 million) and up to CAD 30 million (~USD 22 million) in initial non-dilutive funding. The facility will convert lithium into battery-grade materials, supporting domestic refining capacity for battery supply chains. The initial funding is intended to advance feasibility work and site development ahead of a targeted final investment decision by the end of 2026.
B.A Commentary: Lithium supply chain development in North America is increasingly extending beyond mining into refining and conversion, where domestic capacity remains limited. This project combines upstream lithium supply from Rock Tech’s Georgia Lake deposit with planned battery-grade conversion capacity in Ontario, supporting a more integrated regional supply chain. The structure of the partnership also reflects how converter projects are increasingly being developed through a combination of operational expertise and external infrastructure capital.
On 21 April 2026, Argentina Lithium & Energy signed a non-binding Heads of Terms and Framework Agreement with Lanshen for the Rincon West lithium brine project in Salta Province, with proposed staged contributions of up to USD 100 million. The agreement covers collaboration on technical evaluation, development, and potential financing using direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology. Structured across three stages, it defines a framework for progressing the project under agreed milestones.
B.A Commentary: Early-stage lithium projects are often advanced through non-binding frameworks that bring together capital and technology ahead of firm investment decisions. The agreement builds on a December 2025 MoU with Lanshen, reflecting a step from initial collaboration toward a more defined development structure. Staged arrangements are becoming more common across brine projects, allowing partners to assess extraction performance and commercial viability before committing larger capital.
On 9 April 2026, the UK government announced a GBP 380 million (~USD 517 million) grant to enable Agratas to build one of Europe’s largest gigafactories. The announcement forms part of a broader GBP 700 million (~USD 953 million) advanced manufacturing investment package introduced by the UK government. The facility will produce batteries for electric vehicles, contributing to the decarbonisation of road transport and to domestic manufacturing capacity. Expected to create 4,200 jobs, the project supports the scaling of battery production and industrial competitiveness in the UK.
B.A Commentary: Battery manufacturing in Europe remains closely tied to public funding, which continues to underpin the development of gigafactories. The Agratas project adds domestic cell capacity as electrified vehicle production expands. Investment of this type reflects how governments are positioning battery manufacturing within broader industrial policy, with funding still playing a central role in bringing large-scale projects through to execution.
On 9 April 2026, Altilium secured GBP 18.5 million (~USD 25.15 million) in grant funding through the UK government’s DRIVE35 Scale-Up Fund to support construction of its ACT3 EV battery recycling facility in Plymouth. The plant will process around 24,000 end-of-life EV batteries annually, recovering materials including lithium sulphate, nickel mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP), and graphite for next-generation battery manufacturing. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with commissioning planned for the end of 2027, representing the UK’s first commercial-scale facility for recovering critical battery materials.
B.A Commentary: Battery recycling in the UK is beginning to move beyond pilot activity into commercial operation, supported by targeted public funding. Altilium’s progression from pilot to refinery reflects a practical step in retaining battery materials within the domestic supply chain. The absence of large-scale refining capacity for battery waste has been a persistent gap; projects of this type are beginning to address it, particularly as volumes of end-of-life batteries and manufacturing scrap continue to grow.
CATL and HyperStrong sign 60 GWh sodium-ion battery supply agreement for energy storage On 27 April 2026, CATL and HyperStrong signed an agreement to supply 60 GWh of sodium-ion batteries over three years. These batteries will be deployed across energy storage projects, supporting system efficiency and overall project economics. The agreement is the largest sodium-ion battery supply deal announced to date and marks a step toward commercial deployment of sodium-ion batteries. |
B.A Commentary:Sodium-ion batteries are entering early commercial deployment, particularly in energy storage applications where cost, safety, and raw material availability take priority over energy density. The scale of this agreement suggests growing industry confidence in sodium-ion as a complementary technology to lithium-ion. Over time, this may contribute to the diversification of battery chemistries, especially in stationary storage. |
Company Member News |
Engineering Industries eXcellence Successful battery manufacturing requires a mixture of innovation and execution. From pilot lines to gigafactories, IndX helps battery manufacturers connect engineering, production, quality, and supply chain through Digital Thread, MES, AI, and Digital Twin strategies that accelerate scale-up, reduce bottlenecks, and turn battery ambition into real industrial performance. Discover more about what it takes to build, scale and lead successful battery manufacturing operations. Find more information here: Link  |
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Across the battery lifecycle, from raw materials to cell manufacturing and recycling, chemistry, composition and impurities play a critical role in performance, safety and reliability. Understanding where analytical insight matters most helps teams make better decisions across R&D and manufacturing. Our new guide explains how analytical solutions support battery manufacturing and materials analysis across the entire lifecycle. Find more information here: Link
Thermo Fisher Scientific Across the battery lifecycle, from raw materials to cell manufacturing and recycling, chemistry, composition and impurities play a critical role in performance, safety and reliability. Understanding where analytical insight matters most helps teams make better decisions across R&D and manufacturing. Our new guide explains how analytical solutions support battery manufacturing and materials analysis across the entire lifecycle. Find more information here: Link |
Ingun Reliable contact is essential for accurate battery testing. Introducing the BCP-690 series – designed for stable and precise OCV and AC-IR measurements even under high process tolerances and harsh production conditions. With low and consistent contact resistance, long service life and flexible integration options, the series supports reliable performance in demanding battery test environments. Learn more about the available variants:BCP-690: Link BCP-690 M: Link  |
Battery Associates’ Events & Updates |
The Battery Show Europe June 9-11, 2026Stuttgart, Germany Join 10,000+ engineers, executives, and innovators at The Battery Show Europe, the premier advanced battery and H/EV event in Europe. This is your opportunity to connect with 800+ leading suppliers, OEMs, Tier 1 and 2 partners, navigate complex industry challenges and supply chain risks, and gain insights to future-proof your business. The three-day conference delivers expert sessions on cutting-edge battery tech and market trends, while the expo floor offers prime networking, education, and face-to-face demos of global innovations from raw materials to full electrification solutions. Secure your pass now: Register here  |
Join BatteryMBA
BatteryMBA’s next cohort is scheduled to start on May 4, 2026, and registrations are open! Apply today and schedule your next steps with our BatteryMBA team.
The BatteryMBA offers a combination of in-depth technical and business knowledge on a range of battery topics aligned with the sector's dynamic growth.
The 870+ BatteryMBA alumni come from 60+ countries, across the value chain, and with various areas of expertise and seniority. They have affiliations with Tesla, Farasis Energy, JLR, Airbus, Hitachi High-Tech Europe, Schlumberger, Bertrandt Group, AMTE Power, the University of Oxford, the European Parliament, and numerous other organisations.
The programme includes a battery-focused case study track, over 30 short presentations from peers, a mentorship programme, networking and career skills sessions, and a roundtable session. Need-based partial scholarships and group discounts are also available. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@battery.mba.
Apply for future cohorts and schedule your next steps with our BatteryMBA team. Need-based partial scholarships and group discounts are also available. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@battery.mba.
Graduation of the Jan-Apr 2026 BatteryMBA cohort |
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About Battery Associates
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B.A operates as a global network that unites battery experts (BatteryPRO), a platform for innovative projects (BatteryLAB), and a facilitator of training programmes for aspiring battery leaders (BatteryEDU). B.A's educational programmes notably includes BatteryMBA, a 12-week programme training aspiring battery leaders.
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