The government is driving the development of next-generation batteries with significantly improved energy density and safety.
On Nov. 29, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE) announced that the “High-performance Next-Generation Secondary Battery Technology Development Project for Eco-friendly Transportation” containing these details has successfully passed a preliminary feasibility study.
The project for the development of next-generation secondary battery technology will invest a total budget of 117.23 billion won (US$90.67 million) from 2024 to 2028.
This initiative is driven by the need to secure a technological edge through the development of next-generation batteries that can meet the accelerating transition to environmentally friendly mobility in line with the global trend of reducing carbon emissions.
With recent commercial secondary batteries approaching their performance limits, the technological gap between competing nations is gradually narrowing. Unlike current commercialized batteries, where performance is largely influenced by the type and ratio of minerals included in the cathode material, next-generation batteries offer a wide range of combinations involving cathode, anode, and electrolyte, including solid-state components. The diversity extends to the types of minerals included in the cathode and anode materials.
While companies such as LG Energy Solution, SK on, and Samsung SDI are driving development efforts, there has been a recognized need for a nationally led initiative. Developing all the required technologies at the corporate level and securing an optimal technological portfolio prove to be challenging, underscoring the necessity for a government-led initiative.
The MOTIE is planning to prioritize investments in the development of secondary battery technologies related to next-generation electrolytes, specifically solid-state, as well as cathode materials like lithium-sulfur and anode materials such as lithium-metal.
Solid-state batteries have a reduced risk of fire incidents, lithium-sulfur contributes to weight reduction, and lithium metal brings improvements in energy density and lifespan. Notably, lithium is significant because it does not have to use graphite, presenting a potential advantage irrespective of supply chain conflicts.
These batteries are expected to be utilized in next-generation transportation systems as they have the potential to offset the drawbacks associated with current commercial batteries.