January Newsletter 2026
- 2 hours ago
- 6 min read
Dear battery enthusiast,
Welcome to Battery Associates’ January 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
Battery Industry Highlights
In this section, we summarise relevant battery news from the past month.
On December 26, 2025, LG Energy Solution cancelled a 3.9 trillion won ($2.7 billion) battery supply contract with Freudenberg e-Battery Power Systems following Freudenberg’s decision to exit its battery business. The termination follows the recent cancellation of a separate EV battery supply agreement with Ford Motor valued at around 9.6 trillion won. Together, the two cancellations remove approximately 13.5 trillion won in expected revenue, representing more than half of LG Energy Solution’s reported revenue of 25.62 trillion won in the previous year.
B.A Commentary: The sequence of contract signings followed by terminations shows reduced certainty in long-term battery supply arrangements. The outcome is lower revenue visibility for cell manufacturers and greater exposure to downstream demand changes. In the battery value chain, capacity planning is more sensitive to customer concentration when offtake volumes are tied to a limited number of large buyers.
On December 2, Vulcan Energy Resources Limited secured a EUR €2.2 billion financing package to fully fund Phase One of its Lionheart Project in Germany’s Upper Rhine Valley. The package includes EUR €1.19 billion in senior debt funding, EUR €204 million in German government grants, EUR €283 million in strategic equity investments, and EUR €528 million from an equity raising, covering construction and development funding for the project.
B.A Commentary: The completed financing removes funding constraints for Phase One and enables transition into construction and ramp-up. The project uses a mixed capital structure that combines long-term project finance debt, public-sector support, and equity participation from industrial partners. This allocation of risk supports capital-intensive early operations and limits balance-sheet exposure. Phase One is expected to add new lithium chemical supply capacity within Europe, reducing reliance on imported battery raw materials.
On December 19, the German battery recycling company, cylib, secured a EUR €63.4 million grant under the STARK programme from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy to expand its Dormagen facility. The funding supports the construction of Europe’s first dedicated industrial-scale LFP recycling line, increasing planned capacity to 60,000 tonnes per year. The facility is scheduled to begin operations in 2027.
B.A Commentary: The grant adds to cylib’s existing non-dilutive grants and Series A equity funding, bringing total secured funding to over €140 million. It supports expanding recycling capabilities to include LFP alongside NMC, addressing the need for industrial-scale LFP recycling capacity in Europe. Public funding under the STARK programme supports capital-intensive infrastructure in a transitioning industrial region. |
On December 8, Blue Current closed a Series D extension funding round of more than USD $80 million, anchored by Amazon, with participation from Koch Disruptive Technologies, Piedmont Capital, Rusheen Capital Partners, and Allen & Company. The funding supports the commercialisation of Blue Current’s silicon solid-state battery platform for mobility and stationary energy storage applications.
B.A Commentary: The Series D extension provides capital to support Blue Current’s transition from development into commercialisation. Amazon's participation alongside existing investors signals interest in solid-state batteries for stationary storage and mobility applications. The company’s use of manufacturing processes compatible with existing lithium-ion equipment may reduce scale-up risk during early commercial deployment.
On December 8, LG Energy Solution announced a KRW ₩2.06 trillion (USD $1.39 billion) battery supply agreement with Mercedes-Benz AG. Deliveries are scheduled to run from March 2028 through June 2035 and will supply batteries to North American and European markets. The contract value represents around 8% of LG Energy Solution’s 2024 annual sales of KRW ₩25.6 trillion.
B.A Commentary: The agreement secures long-term demand for LG Energy Solution and improves revenue visibility through 2035, supporting disciplined capacity utilisation. The 2028 start date aligns with Mercedes-Benz’s next product cycle following its planned global model launches by 2027. Supply to both North American and European markets suggests deployment across multiple vehicle platforms.
Company Member News
Thermo Fisher Scientific
The production of high-performance, sustainable batteries requires innovative technology that delivers value and enables manufacturers to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving market. Find out how the use of an advanced twin-screw extruder supports eco-friendly battery production by reducing waste, minimising solvent use and enables sustainable practices like dry electrode processing and dry binder fibrillation.
Find more information here: Link
Engineering Industries eXcellence From capacity constraints to new battery chemistries, manufacturers face increasing pressure to scale fast without adding risk. These short videos highlight practical perspectives on how manufacturers are improving execution, flexibility and resilience across the battery lifecycle. Find the playlist here. |
Creonia Cells Job Alert: Creonia Cells is Hiring in Austria Creonia Cells GmbH is expanding its team in Enns, Austria, and offers two exciting opportunities at the interface of research and industrialisation in next-generation lithium-ion electrode manufacturing. EU work permit preferred; ideally German-speaking. If you recommend a candidate who gets hired, you receive a 500 € referral bonus. 1. Laboratory and Development Technician Battery Research (f m d) Work on electrode development, cell assembly and electrochemical testing in a modern R&D environment.
2. Process Engineer / Technician Plant and Process Development (f m d) Support the development of Creonia’s breakthrough electrode manufacturing technology from process design to pilot plant operation.
Find the full job posting here: https://www.creocell-career.at/ Send your application directly to markus.ungerank@creonia.at |
Battery Associates’ Events & Updates
The Battery Show Europe
June 9-11, 2026
Stuttgart, 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 registration is open! Apply now 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. Find the last cohort’s lecturer line-up here.
The 800+ BatteryMBA alumni come from 60+ countries, from across the value chain and from 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.
Onboarding the Jan-Apr 2026 BatteryMBA cohort |
Battery Associates services
Battery Associates offers consultancy, innovation, and education services on a wide range of topics. Please get in touch if you're interested in any of our services!
About Battery Associates
Battery Associates (B.A) is a community-driven company on a mission to accelerate sustainable battery innovation - join us!
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.
We are rapidly becoming a reference community for battery enthusiasts who want to tackle pressing environmental and energy-related challenges. Battery Associates currently unites battery experts working across the battery value supply chain, based in over 20 countries. We're growing, join us in our work!
Did you enjoy our newsletter?
Comments