Northern Graphite Provides Development Update on Its Patented Porocarb(R) Product for All-Solid-State-Battery Technologies Porocarb® represents potentially significant new revenue stream for Northern
Northern Graphite Provides Development
Update on Its Patented Porocarb(R) Product for
All-Solid-State-Battery Technologies
Porocarb® represents potentially significant new revenue stream for Northern
Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 2, 2024) - Northern Graphite Corporation
(TSXV: NGC)
(OTCQB: NGPHF) (FSE: 0NG) (XSTU: 0NG)
(the "
Company
" or "
Northern
")
is pleased to provide
an update on the development, production, and commercialization of Porocarb®, a patented high-
performance macro-porous hard carbon material aimed at boosting performance in next generation
battery chemistries for electric vehicles ("EVS"), including both lithium ion and solid state batteries.
Since the launch of its Battery Materials Group
("NGCBM")
in February, Northern has signed non-
disclosure agreements with top-tier global battery manufacturers from South Korea, China, and several
Western countries who are keen on utilizing Porocarb® as a performance additive in lithium-Ion
batteries or as a protective carbon coating for All-Solid-State-Battery ("ASSB") anodes.
NGC Battery Materials Group was formed through the acquisition of the assets and R&D team of the
battery division of Germany's Heraeus Group, and included a fully operational, state-of-the-art laboratory
in Frankfurt. The acquisition included licensing for the IP to develop, produce, and sell Porocarb®, a
high-performance porous hard carbon material developed over the last 10 years and patented by
Heraeus to enhance the efficiency and speed of energy storage mechanisms.
"Since we launched our new battery materials group, we have been leveraging the deep, longstanding
commercial relationships that the new team has brought Northern to position Porocarb® with
prospective clients as a frontrunner in the development of next-generation, lithium-based energy storage
and ASSB," said Northern Chief Executive Officer Hugues Jacquemin. "We are in advanced
discussions with several major battery manufacturers who are assessing Porocarb® for its potential to
extend cycle-life for current and future technologies. The market potential of Porocarb® lies in its unique
applications in tailored battery electrode formulations."
A number of global automakers are working to commercialize ASSB chemistries that will enable longer
driving distances, faster charging and an overall safer energy storage system. Based on information
from SNE Research and EV Tank, the solid-state battery market is expected to grow from approximately
2 GWh today to an estimated 220 GWh by 2030, of which 60 GWh will be ASSB.
"Porocarb® has opened a whole new potential revenue stream for the Company that is separate but
complimentary to our work towards becoming a major supplier of battery anode material (
"BAM"
) to
lithium-ion battery makers when our Baie-Comeau BAM plant is built," said Mr. Jacquemin. "While
timing will depend on the qualification process with battery makers, Porocarb® has the potential to
provide revenue to the Company sooner even than our natural graphite Lithium-Ion battery anode
material products."
Porocarb® plays a vital role in multiple battery applications (Fig.1). It acts as a protective layer in
ASSBs, enhances energy density and cycle life as a host material for active materials, and serves as an
additive in LIBs to improve overall cell performance.
Fig.1: Main markets for Porocarb in battery applications such as ASSBs, active material and LIBs.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
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"We have made great progress in finalizing a specialized Porocarb grade employed as a protective
carbon layer between the current collector and solid-state electrolyte in an anode-free ASSB design. The
latest results with world leading South Korean and Chinese battery manufacturers indicated superior
performance with Porocarb compared to other carbon materials and we are currently in the pivotal
phase of product qualification with our clients," said Dr. Moritz Hantel, VP Innovation & Product
Management of NGCBM.
"This positive feedback has led to an increase in
orders for qualification material from battery cell
makers assessing Porocarb for use in ASSBs. These developments underscore the promising future of
Porocarb in the market," said Michael Grimm, President of NGCBM.
Northern is advancing toward its goal of becoming a vertically integrated, mine-to-market supplier to
traditional downstream customers and to the emerging market for battery anode material. The Company
is progressing toward construction of a 200,000 tonne-per-year BAM plant in Baie-Comeau, Quebec,
and is advancing technical relationships with multiple partners with the objective of securing the
technology, engineering and financial partnerships necessary to develop BAM facilities in Baie-Comeau
and elsewhere.
"Today, Northern is an integrated, pioneering technology company that is innovatively designing carbon
products for energy storage systems, whether it be LIB or ASSB," said Mr. Jacquemin. "Our ability to
meet customer needs, understand their requirements and swiftly implement solutions in our lab positions
us a key player in the future of battery technologies."
About Northern Graphite
Northern, the only flake graphite producing company in North America, is a Canadian, TSX Venture
Exchange listed company that is focused on becoming a world leader in producing natural graphite and
upgrading it into high-value products critical to the green economy, including anode material for lithium-
ion batteries/EVs, fuel cells and graphene, as well as advanced industrial technologies.
Northern expects to become one of the largest natural graphite producers outside of China when its
Namibian operations come back online. The Company also has the large-scale Bissett Creek project in
Ontario and substantial additional measured and indicated resources in Namibia and the Mousseau
property in Quebec which are expected to be sources of continued production growth in the future.
All
projects have "battery quality" graphite and are located close to infrastructure in politically stable
jurisdictions.
For media inquiries contact
Pav Jordan, VP of Communications
Email:
For additional information
Please visit the Company's website at
https://www.northerngraphite.com/home/
, the Company's profile
on
www.sedarplus.ca
our
Social Channels
listed below or contact the Company at (613) 271-2124.
YouTube
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable
Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information are frequently characterized by
words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "potential",
"possible" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "will",
"could", or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements
regarding, among others, the Company's plans to develop, produce and commercialize Porocarb,
develop its Baie-Comeau Battery Anode Material facility, intentions to restart the Okanjande mine in
Namibia and development plans for its other projects including Bissett Creek. All such forward-
looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by management based on their
experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments,
as well as other factors they believe are appropriate in the circumstances. However, these statements
are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or
results to differ materially from those projected including, but not limited to, unexpected changes in
laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of other parties to
perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; unexpected failure or
inadequacy of infrastructure and the failure of ongoing and contemplated studies to deliver
anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued studies, development or
operations and the inability to raise required financing. Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on forward-looking information or statements.
Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on what
management believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that
actual results will be consistent with them. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date
of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject
to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the
forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the
date of this news release.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
news release.
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