The Technology Development Board under the Department of Science & Technology has extended financial help to Indigenous Energy Storage Technologies, located at Roorkee, for the project titled “Commercialisation of Bio-waste / Agricultural Waste Derived Hard Carbon for Sodium-Ion Batteries.”

The objective of the project is to create indigenous capabilities for the production of high-end anode materials and contribute towards the development of cost-effective and sustainable energy storage technologies in India.

The project supported by TDB is focused on the development of hard carbon produced from bio-waste and agricultural waste for use as a primary material for the anode in sodium-ion batteries. Sodium-ion technology is increasingly being recognized as a substitute for traditional lithium-ion technology for applications such as grid-scale battery storage solutions, UPS and inverters, solar street lighting solutions, and low-speed electric vehicles such as e-rickshaws, e-scooters, and e-cycles.

Several advantages of hard carbon in the application of sodium-ion batteries include high initial coulombic efficiency, stable cycling performance, and improved energy capacity. Unlike graphite materials, which lose their disordered structure at high temperatures, hard carbon maintains its disordered structure even at high temperatures. The use of biomass materials in the production of the materials is sustainable in nature because the materials used can be sourced locally.

The use of agricultural and bio-waste resources helps to develop a more circular and resource-efficient approach to advanced material manufacturing. The technology also helps to mitigate supply chain risks, as sodium and carbon resources are more abundant and easily available compared to lithium resources.

With support from the Technology Development Board, Indigenous Energy Storage Technologies is aiming to scale up its production capabilities and commercialize indigenous hard carbon materials for sodium-ion battery applications. This will help to strengthen India’s position in next-generation battery technologies, as well as promote more sustainable manufacturing.

The Technology Development Board has stated that the development of alternative energy storage technologies is important for the clean energy transition in India. It has stated, “Projects in indigenous materials innovation and waste to value approaches are necessary for the development of a robust and self-sufficient battery ecosystem in India.”

The Indigenous Energy Storage Technologies Private Limited officials have stated that the project will enable their company to accelerate the commercialization of sustainable battery materials.