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  • Detail view of battery renderings in blue.

    QuantumScape ships Alpha-2 prototypes

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 27, 2024

    On track for key goal in 2024, headed steadily onward in aims for 2025. Nextgen solid-state battery tech leader QuantumScape has started customer shipments of its Alpha-2 prototype battery cells, on target for its 2024 goal. Toward achieving its mission to transform energy storage with solid-state lithium-metal battery technology, the company began shipping its A0 prototypes to potential automotive customers for qualification at the end of 2022. The company's new Alpha-2...

  • Rendering of nanotubes and bubbles.

    Nickel catalyst for faster H2 electrolysis

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 27, 2024

    Introducing 3D nickel catalysts for faster and cheaper production of hydrogen from water. A team of researchers from Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) in South Korea has developed a new three-dimensional nickel catalyst that shows promise for producing more hydrogen from water at lower costs. The production of hydrogen from water typically involves the use of platinum or other similar precious metals, which pushes up the costs of producing this...

  • Rendering of an astronaut holding a battery.

    Space battery pioneer gets first big order

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 27, 2024

    Hitachi Zosen goes commercial; company sends its all-solid-state batteries into equipment manufacturing space. An as-of-yet undisclosed semiconductor equipment manufacturer has placed the first commercial order for 12 all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries (coined AS-LiB) with a capacity of 140 milliampere-hour from battery pioneer Hitachi Zosen, with future orders on the way as part of a new product. A typical all-solid-state lithium battery can not only store nearly twice as...

  • An array of solar panels beneath a bright blue sky.

    Spain's largest solar redox flow battery

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 27, 2024

    The Son Orlandis system is the first vanadium redox flow-based energy storage plant to be built by Endesa; the largest to be paired with solar in Europe. Spanish utility Endesa Enel Green Power España (the largest electricity company in Spain and the second largest in Portugal) has commissioned an energy storage system utilizing a 1.1-megawatt vanadium redox flow battery (VFRB) connected to the 3.34 MW Son Orlandis solar plant in Mallorca, Spain. In 2023, the Balearic...

  • Wind turbines and solar panels seen with a sunset.

    ReElement to recycle EDPR wind turbines

    A.J. Roan, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 27, 2024

    Rare earths recycling partnership is first of many that begins process of a circular economy. Striving toward a truly circular system in the recovery of rare earth elements, ReElement Technologies Corp. announced a partnership with EDP Renewables North America (EDPR NA) to maximize efficiency and sustainability in recycling neodymium-based permanent magnets from decommissioned wind turbines into magnet-grade REEs. The collaboration will leverage the wind energy expertise of...

  • A frost-covered magnet cube floats above a black superconductor disc.

    Super-rare superconductor mineral found

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 27, 2024

    Ames Lab scientists confirm the first ever unconventional superconductor found in nature. Scientists at the Ames National Laboratory in Iowa have made a world's first discovery – a naturally occurring mineral with superconducting properties similar to the high-temperature superconductors that could revolutionize energy, transportation, and electronics. Superconductive materials can conduct electricity without energy loss. Scientists have already created superconductors in th...

  • Fans atop a modular direct air capture array.

    CarbonCapture secures cash injection

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 27, 2024

    U.S. CO2 capture and storage startup raises $80 million from Amazon, Saudi Aramco, others. Though behind on production schedule, CarbonCapture's latest major funding round raised $80 million from Saudi Aramco and other big names such as Prime Movers Lab, Amazon, Siemens Financial Services, Idealab X, and Marc Benioff's TIME Ventures. The startup is now reframing its focus on a massive, industrial application of its modular carbon dioxide-capturing designs. CarbonCapture has...

  • Wireframe of a cargo ship and plane with Wright batteries.

    Developing the Wright aluminum battery

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 26, 2024

    DOE bankrolls ultra-lightweight, energy-dense aluminum battery and novel artificial intelligence electrolyte screening system. A collaboration between Wright Electric and Columbia University has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Department of Energy via the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) program for a groundbreaking ultra-energy-dense and lightweight aluminum battery brought about by a novel artificial intelligence electrolyte screening system. Founded i...

  • A heavy-duty train operating on the Moon with Earth in the background.

    DARPA enlists Northrop for Moon railroad

    A.J. Roan, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 26, 2024

    Begins study to develop first railroad network on the Moon for future extraterrestrial habitation. Invoking a time when Americans began voyaging across the continent in steam-powered engines, Northrop Grumman Corp. has been selected by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to further develop the concept of building a Moon-based railroad network. As part of a broader 10-year Lunar Architecture (LunA-10) Capability Study, this envisioned lunar railroad network would be...

  • Rendering of bubbles with a floating hydrogen chemical symbol.

    DOE continues H2 funding with $750M

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 22, 2024

    The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy continues support of growing U.S. green hydrogen. The U.S. Department of Energy has announced a $750 million infusion into clean hydrogen to significantly reduce its cost, beat out China for global leadership in hydrogen, and develop American energy independence through expansion of the industry. Clean hydrogen adoption by some of the country's most energy-intensive and CO2-emitting sectors is an essential part of the green...

  • Rendering of a battery full of liquid color.

    Zero-waste, water-based organic redox flow

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 21, 2024

    Quino's first-of-a-kind continuous production organic flow battery process. Quino Energy is a start-up developing water-based redox flow batteries that can cost-effectively store up to 40 hours of electrical energy in organic molecules called quinones. The company upcycles coal and wood tar into these molecules, which are commonly used to make a large variety of natural dyes but also happen to be excellent battery reactants. Mid- to long-duration battery storage solutions...

  • A bin full of retired CPUs from old laptops or computers.

    DOE offers E-SCRAP prize for recycling

    A.J. Roan, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 20, 2024

    Seeks innovation in recovering untapped multi-billion-dollar electronic scrap industry in America. Organizing an engaging competition to spur recycling of critical materials from electronic scrap, the U.S. Department of Energy launched its Electronics Scrap Recycling Advancement Prize (E-SCRAP), which will award up to $4 million for winning competitors. Including mobile phones, home appliances, medical or office equipment and essentially any other consumer technology powered...

  • Rendering of a carbon superstructure designed into a flower.

    Clean energy carbon superstructures

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 20, 2024

    Further research on versatile carbon superstructures constructed at nanoscale could revolutionize energy solutions and clean up carbon's image. Burning carbon may no longer be viewed as the popular energy source, but there is still plenty of work to be done in establishing all that sustainably generated power – work that carbon, by its nature, is well-suited to perform. Superstructured carbons (SSCs) are a unique category of cutting-edge nanomaterial that is fast moving out...

  • A natural gas flame burning above an exposed vent in the outdoors.

    Natural H2 may be prolific and accessible

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 20, 2024

    Hydrogen discovered in Albanian mine provides clues on where to find massive hydrogen flows. The world's largest natural flow of highly pure hydrogen gas has been quietly seeping through a nondescript pool deep within an Albanian chromium mine. Researchers reported the study in a paper published in the journal Science, noting that the investigation of similar deposits may reveal more major findings of this clean-burning resource across the globe. Naturally occurring hydrogen a...

  • Closeup of human eye with augmented reality contact lens.

    Smart contact lenses for augmented reality

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 20, 2024

    New light-bending nanomaterials may turn science fiction into science fact across AI computing, medical, and entertainment fields. Konstantin Novoselov, co-discoverer of graphene and 2010 Nobel laureate, is among a group of scientists behind a breakthrough that could open the way for even more revolutionary nanomaterial applications similar to graphene, from smart contact lenses to rapid disease detection. Although scientists had long understood that crystal graphene existed,...

  • Fluent Metal technicians working on printer head.

    Fluent Metal liquid AM drops on the scene

    A.J. Roan, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 19, 2024

    Metal 3D printing startup raises $5.5 million in first-round funding to advance its metal dropper printing technology. Using no lasers or powder, additive manufacturing company Fluent Metal Inc. emerged on the metal 3D printing scene with a $5.5 million financing to bring its unique drop-on-demand approach to the world. "Drop-on-demand technology is an elegant approach to create complex metal components," said Fluent Metal CEO Peter Schmitt. "Whether it's prototype iterations...

  • Two angles of the Porsche Macan EV.

    Electric Porsches to be unveiled at SXSW

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 19, 2024

    The all-electric Taycan and Macan will take center stage at technology, arts, and culture festival in Austin, Texas. Returning to Austin for its third year at South by Southwest arts and tech festival, Porsche will spotlight three new all-electric options – the Taycan Turbo S, Macan 4 and Macan Turbo. Porsche is committed to increasing the sales of electric vehicles, stating that it expects to make more than 80% of its sales EVs by 2030. These well-publicized goals by such...

  • Semi-truck cab painted with Metallica’s '72 season album-inspired graphics.

    A Metallica catalyst for Iveco fuel cells

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 18, 2024

    Iconic heavy metal band will use electric trucks produced by Italian automaker on European leg of 2024 tour. In what may be the perfect metaphor for the heavy metal needed as a catalyst for hydrogen fuel cells, Italian automaker Iveco is providing electric and natural gas trucks and busses to transport crew and gear during the European leg of Metallica's M72 World Tour. Representing the environmental and social values embraced by both the legendary heavy metal rock band and...

  • 100-microwatt nuclear battery next to a Wu Jiao five-cent coin.

    Betavolt unveils 50-year atomic battery

    A.J. Roan, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 13, 2024

    Betavolt reveals battery of atomic proportions, may be solution to long-form energy storage on a micro-scale Exploring alternate battery chemistries, Beijing-based Betavolt has unveiled a new battery that it claims can generate electricity for at least 50 years without the need for recharging or maintenance. The catch – they are nuclear-powered, with diamond semiconductors, and only generate around 100 Microwatts at a size less than a five Jiao coin, which is about 25...

  • Rendering of blue and orange grid sandwiching carbon molecules.

    Geothermal for cheap U.S. CO2 capture

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 13, 2024

    Combining carbon-free energy with permanent storage of CO2 creates a more cost-effective self-sustaining loop. A research team at Ohio State University (OSU) has proposed the combination of carbon capture with geothermal energy in a cheap, novel method that could make capturing carbon dioxide from the air a viable option. Their system recycles some of the captured CO2 to transport geothermal energy in a closed loop that can make large-scale direct air capture cheaper and more...

  • Illustration of a futuristic building with honeycomb openings in a grassy field.

    The cost of catching runaway CO2 emissions

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 13, 2024

    Startup Clairity raises $6.75 million to scale carbon removal system, bringing active carbon capture closer to cheaper, universally adoptable solutions California-based climate tech startup Clairity Technology announced that it has raised $6.75 million to scale its energy-efficient and cost-effective direct air capture (DAC) solution for removing dilute CO2. DAC technology is a key carbon removal option in the transition to a net-zero energy system that works by extracting...

  • A map graphic designed to show connections between Canadian regions.

    Canada's call for clean mining innovations

    A.J. Roan, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 13, 2024

    Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator network issues third round of pan-Canadian call for proposals Issuing its third pan-Canadian call for proposals from innovative clean-tech companies for the mining industry, the Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator (MICA) network, supported by the Government of Canada, hopes to once again drive the nationwide commodity toward modernization through efficiency and sustainability. Created in 2021 through a strategic C$40...

  • Lead author Tianyi Ma working with assistant on water batteries.

    Water Batteries: cheap, green, no fire

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 12, 2024

    A little rust might make batteries safer, easier to recycle, and a potential competitor to lithium-ion. By using water in place of the hazardous chemical electrolytes used in commercial batteries, an international team of scientists hailing from Australia to China has proposed a water-based battery technology, a safer and greener alternative to chemical-laden batteries marketed today. Lithium-ion batteries, used in everything from laptops and phones to electric vehicles,...

  • Artist's rendering of an infinity symbol made up of batteries.

    A one-stop, closed-loop U.S. battery supply

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 12, 2024

    With the money, permits and resources locked in, US Strategic Metals has positioned itself as a desperately needed sustainable domestic battery metals platform Intent on repairing the widening gap representing a nonexistent American electric battery industry, US Strategic Metals (USSM) has transformed from humble beginnings as a mine site cleanup and reclamation business to a one-stop green battery metals platform taking the first steps toward a secure domestic closed-loop...

  • A car with an EV plug showing graphics indicating fast charge.

    Solid-state battery hits fast-charge goal

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 9, 2024

    Ampcera's solid-state battery tech surpasses DOE fast charging goal. Due to mounting charge anxiety over limited at-home charging options and prolonged urban charging station wait times, the United States Advanced Battery Consortium and U.S. Department of Energy have both set commercial manufacturers a goal of 80% battery ultrafast charge in 15 minutes – which Ampcera's all-solid-state (ASSB) battery tech has just blown past. Last year, Ampcera was awarded a $2.1 million...

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