EcoPro received development funding from the Canadian federal government for lithium-metal anode materials, a key material for solid-state batteries.
EcoPro said on the 12th that on the 8th (local time), EcoPro Lithium, a subsidiary of EcoPro Innovation, secured C$6 million (about 6.4 billion won) in research and development (R&D) grants from Natural Resources Canada.
EcoPro Innovation will use this funding as a foundation to pursue a demonstration project for lithium-metal anode processes for next-generation batteries. Lithium-metal anode materials have about 10 times the energy density of graphite, which is mainly used in existing anode materials, and can dramatically extend electric vehicle driving range.
The funding was provided as part of the Energy Innovation Program (EIP), which aims to establish a regional battery supply chain in Canada.
EcoPro Innovation, which produces and supplies lithium hydroxide, signed a joint development agreement (JDA) in Mar. last year with Hydro-Québec, a power company under the Quebec provincial government, and has been developing lithium-metal anodes. Based on this grant, the company plans to build and demonstrate in Canada the entire lithium-metal anode value chain—from lithium metal production to high-purity refining, ultra-thin foil manufacturing, and performance and safety verification—by Mar. 2027.
The EcoPro group is also developing solid electrolytes, cathode materials for solid-state, and lithium sulfide in addition to anode materials for all-solid-state batteries. Targeting commercialization next year, the solid electrolyte now has a pilot facility at the Ochang headquarters in North Chungcheong, producing samples at an annual scale of 40 tons (t).
An EcoPro Innovation official said, "To lead the Solid-state Battery market, we are advancing lithium-metal anode technology in collaboration with the Canadian government and local corporations," adding, "With this funding from the Canadian government, development of the related technology is expected to accelerate."