October 18, 2024: Lyten, the supermaterial applications company, announced plans this week to invest more than $1 billion to build the world’s first lithium-sulfur battery gigafactory in a move that could help break US dependence on China for metals crucial for the energy transition.
The facility will be located near Reno in the US state of Nevada, and will have the capability to produce up to 10GWh of lithium-sulfur batteries — an emerging technology — annually at full scale. The battery does not rely on graphite, nickel, manganese, or cobalt — metals in which the vast majority of the world’s supply is controlled by Beijing.
The first phase of the facility is scheduled to come online in 2027. Lyten’s factory will manufacture cathode active materials and lithium metal anodes and complete assembly of lithium-sulfur battery cells in both cylindrical and pouch formats.
Lyten has been manufacturing CAM and lithium metal anodes and assembling batteries at its semi-automated pilot facility in San Jose, California since May 2023.
Lyten was approached for details of the financing package but was unavailable to respond by the time of going to press.
Lyten, founded in 2015, says it has received more than $425 million in investment from companies including Stellantis, FedEx, Honeywell, Walbridge, the European Investment Fund, and the Luxembourg Future Fund.
The company lists more than 420 patents granted or pending.
Commercial research into lithium sulfur batteries started in the early 2000s and a leading company at the time, OXIS Energy, based in the UK made huge strides in its development — particularly in its cycle life (it was once even reckoned feasible for EVs). OXIS even pioneered the possibility of solid-state lithium sulfur batteries in 2020.
However, commercialization of the chemistry ultimately proved elusive and the company went into receivership in May 2021. In July that year Johnson Matthey acquired the assets and IP of the company for use in its ability to manufacture green hydrogen.
Lyten’s lithium-sulfur cells have a high energy density, which will enable up to 40% lighter weight than lithium-ion and 60% lighter weight than lithium iron phosphate batteries. The firm says the cells are fully manufactured in the US and eliminate the supply chain headaches and need for nickel, cobalt, manganese, and graphite.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Milo McBride, fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, called the commercialisation of lithium sulphur batteries a “golden goose” for US battery competitiveness. “The west is not scaling its alternative critical mineral supply chains to the extent that is needed,” he said. “What this technology offers geopolitically is a really interesting opportunity for the US to basically put forth a battery that renders some of these minerals and subsequent chemicals less important in the long-term picture.”
Lyten says it already has a pipeline of hundreds of potential customers, and the Nevada gigafactory is part of Lyten’s strategy to meet this growing demand.
The planned 1.25 million square foot facility, located on a 125-acre campus in the Reno AirLogistics Park, initially will employ 200 people, growing to more than 1,000 at full capacity, including researchers, manufacturing engineers, battery engineers, technicians and operators, in addition to administrative and support personnel.
Lyten has signed an MOU with industrial developer Dermody Properties to locate the facility on land owned by the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority.
