SwedishstartupEnerpoly has opened the worlds first zinc-ion battery megafactory.
Its vision is to scale a better alternative to lithium-ion for storing renewable energy over longer periods of time.
The Enerpoly Production Innovation Center (EPIC) facility is located north of Stockholm.
Commissioning has already begun and the plant is expected to make the first zinc-ion batteries next year.
Later that year, he teamed up with his former classmate Dr. Samer Nameer and the duo founded Enerpoly.
They believed zinc-ion batteries could fill the gap.
Making zinc-ion batteries work
Using zinc in batteries isnt anything new.
This chemistry has made companies like Energizer and Duracell a tonne of money.
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However, zinc-ion batteries have historically, for lack of a better word, sucked at recharging.
This is because zinc-ion chemistries are plagued by dendrites crystals that cause short circuits.
They also lose capacity fast.
Unlike lithium, zinc is globally abundant.
Moreover, Sweden is home to thelargest zinc reservesin Europe about 2% of the worlds total.
Enerpoly hopes to establish a completely European supply chain for its batteries and make the continent a zinc-ion powerhouse.
The batteries are modular multiple packs can be placed in parallel to make larger systems.
The company claims the packs are non-toxic, non-flammable, and non-explosive.
And investors seem to agree.
To date, the company has raised just shy of 15mn.
Over 8mn of that came from the Swedish Energy Agency to construct the EPIC factory.
Beyond 2026, the startup is eyeing its first gigafactory.
Story bySion Geschwindt
Sion is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy.
