#China #Wanhua Chemical #battery materials #ElevenEs #Meishan

Wanhua Chemical and ElevenEs Establish Strategic Partnership

In a significant move for the battery materials sector, Wanhua Chemical Battery Technology Co., Ltd. and ElevenEs, a leading European manufacturer of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, recently formalized a strategic agreement. The signing ceremony took place in Meishan, Sichuan province, where key executives from both companies expressed their enthusiasm for this collaboration.

The primary objective of this partnership is to develop a robust and localized supply chain for battery cathode materials across Europe. M. Wang Xiaoxing, the CEO of Wanhua Chemical, emphasized the company's dedication to sustainability and innovation in the renewable energy sector. The agreement aims to establish a comprehensive technical and supply partnership that includes LFP cathode materials, PVDF binders (polyvinylidene fluoride), and NMP solvents (N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone).

Advancements in Battery Material Technology

Wanhua Chemical has earned recognition for its remarkable achievements in battery technology, combining several decades of experience in process development, research, and technical advancements. The company has successfully developed a battery material that integrates material technology, equipment process development, and application technology for battery cells.

Both companies will collaboratively form a dedicated technical team, facilitating the exchange of technical and business insights to speed up product development and market reach. With Wanhua Chemical's extensive production bases and global supply chain capabilities, ElevenEs' battery production operations in Serbia will receive substantial support.

Statements from Leadership

During the signing ceremony, M. Wang Xiaoxing remarked, "This strategic collaboration with ElevenEs marks an important milestone in establishing localized battery material supply chains in Europe. We aim to leverage our strengths in R&D, production processes, and global footprint to provide ElevenEs with high-performing LFP cathode materials and integrated solutions, thereby advancing the sustainable development of new energy in Europe."

M. Nemanja Mikać, founder and CEO of ElevenEs, expressed his optimism about the alliance, stating, "Wanhua Chemical's deep expertise in battery materials, along with its global production capabilities, will significantly enhance ElevenEs’ goals of a localized supply chain. This partnership not only strengthens our security of supply for raw materials but also accelerates innovation through technical synergy, allowing us to offer more competitive LFP batteries in the European market."

Future Collaboration Prospects

Looking ahead, both parties aim to deepen their cooperation in various areas, including electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems (ESS). They plan to expand their partnership into areas such as battery materials, cell products, research and development technologies, and market expansion, all while creating a win-win situation that reinforces their leadership positions within the global renewable energy sector.

About ElevenEs

ElevenEs, part of the Al Pack Group, is an industrial development investment firm known for its leadership in the aluminum processing industry with over 30 years of precision manufacturing expertise, closely linked to electrode production—the active component of LFP batteries. Supported by EIT InnoEnergy, a leading global investor in sustainable energy, ElevenEs has successfully established an advanced laboratory and R&D center as of June 2021. Following the completion of its pilot production line by mid-2023, ElevenEs is on track to build its first mega plant with a capacity of approximately 1,000 MWh (1 GWh) by 2025-2026, followed by the first phase of a gigafactory targeting an annual production capacity of 8 GWh. The second phase aims for an overall annual production capacity of 40 GWh in Europe and the United States by 2031.