Mangrove Lithium

An interesting article in Forbes by Ian Sanders that outlines a possible phased approach to greater sustainability in metals and mining for the transition to renewable energy. A lot of the challenges mentioned in this article are roadblocks Mangrove’s lithium refining directly addresses. Through co-location along the battery-value chain, domestication of the refining step, a reduced carbon footprint, a more efficient flowsheet, and cost competitiveness, an electrochemically produced battery-grade lithium is the mid-stream solution for battery production. The article gives Mangrove and BMW i Ventures a mention as a venture that can “protect the value chain and mitigate supply and pricing risks”, recognizing the need for ingenuity, investments and partnerships in the supply chain. https://lnkd.in/gAF6mWDb

Having domestic midstream refining capacity for resources needed for renewable energy is crucial for Canada’s future energy security. Having capacity to refine lithium in Canada will be equally as important.

📢 Join BMW i Ventures Marcus Behrendt and Inga G. Grieger at the BMW Supplier Diversity Xchange on August 29th in Greenville, SC. This is BMW's nationally recognized Supplier Diversity event, where we bridge the gap and drive innovation through educational seminars and intentional networking. BMW believes that diversity is a catalyst for innovation and excellence. We're eager to connect with the suppliers and partners who contribute to this vision. The BMW Supplier Diversity Xchange is an opportunity to share ideas, foster collaboration, and build a more inclusive future. 🤝 BMW i Ventures portfolio companies participating include actnano, Athenic AI, Cyclic Materials, Formant, Fox Robotics, MacroFab, Mangrove Lithium, Our Next Energy (ONE), RLP, Rapid Liquid Print, Skylo, Synera, Tekion Corp, Simr (formerly UberCloud), Upstream, Verusen AI. More information here ⬇️

The lithium market, despite recent challenges, still shows strong long-term potential, driven by the ongoing renewable energy transition and the anticipated surge in demand for electric vehicles (EVs). Recent reports indicate that while lithium prices have dropped significantly due to oversupply and a temporary slowdown in EV adoption, industry experts remain optimistic about the future. This bullish outlook is supported by expectations of a substantial increase in demand for lithium, particularly from the EV and battery storage sectors, which are projected to grow steadily through 2030 and beyond. Key players in the industry have emphasized that the current low prices are unsustainable in the long term. They argue that higher prices will be necessary to incentivize the production needed to meet future demand. They anticipate a significant rebound in prices as demand outpaces supply in the coming years, particularly as global commitments to net-zero emissions drive increased adoption of renewable technologies. This perspective is shared across the industry, with many companies continuing to invest heavily in lithium production and refining capabilities, despite the current market downturn. The consensus is that the lithium supply chain will play a crucial role in the global energy transition, making it a critical area for investment and growth in the years ahead. https://lnkd.in/gyUsSu5d

In a recent TechCrunch article, Tim De Chant highlights how Breakthrough Energy and other forward-thinking investors are actively seeking out the next generation of climate tech founders—often before they’ve even left university labs — bridging the "valley of death" between groundbreaking research and investible companies. Breakthrough Energy’s Discovery program is a prime example, providing crucial support to early-stage climate tech startups. From grants to mentorship, we’re ensuring that breakthrough technologies make the journey from lab to market, and help shape the future of climate tech. https://nt-z.ro/3X0MAYd

🔋 Investment Needed to Meet Battery Demand by 2040 🔋 By 2040, investment in the #battery sector is expected to surpass $1.6 trillion. This Visual Capitalist infographic utilises Benchmark data to illustrate the total capital expenditure (capex) requirements to build capacity and meet future battery demand by 2030 and 2040. ⬇ Upstream: Companies are set to focus mainly on #lithium, nickel, #copper, and recycling - with demand for recycled materials representing the largest percentage growth in our infographic. ⬇ Midstream: Cathodes are set to require the most capital, with the amount of investment needed increasing from $48 billion in 2030 to $157 billion in 2040. ⬇ Downstream: The downstream battery industry is expected to reach $222 billion in 2030 and increase to $686 billion by 2040. This includes pack assembly, integration into products, distribution, and recycling or disposal of the battery. Benchmark is the world’s leading provider of independent market intelligence for the technologies and supply chains central to the #energytransition. Contact us to learn more about Benchmark’s IOSCO-assured Price Assessments, Forecasts, Sustainability analysis, bespoke Consultancy services and worldwide events ➡ https://lnkd.in/diAEFja

Here is an interesting piece on Mangrove partner BMW i Ventures Kasper Sage in RoboticsAnd AutomationNews Kasper explains BiV’s philosophy on “invest[ing] in things that basically have the potential to influence the automotive sector industry in every country.” The piece goes onto explain how investing into Mangrove was a key decision that they felt would help unlock battery-grade lithium supplies for the EV market through efficiency and sustainability. “When we invested in Mangrove, we thought this is a new way of doing lithium refining,” says Sage. “Basically it makes the process more efficient and greener. That’s a process or technology innovation.” You can read the full article below. https://lnkd.in/gzxkaDcv

Cristina Shoffner, Senior Manager of U.S. Policy and Advocacy at Breakthrough Energy, was featured on ZNRG Podcast with host Karan Takhar. She dives deep into the critical role of policy, innovation, and public-private partnerships in propelling us toward a net-zero future. Tune in on Apple Podcasts and Spotify: https://nt-z.ro/4c9OYQH

An interesting article from Julian Spector at Canary Media Inc. that outlines the optimistic POV in the new Battery Mineral Loop report from RMI. A central criticism around renewable energy has been the mineral demands needed to fuel it; however, as this article points out, “many of those concerns are overblown, and that the materials EVs rely on are in fact an asset — not a hindrance.” The minerals in batteries can be recycled for reuse in batteries. That, coupled with improvements in battery chemistry and design, the need for extracted lithium from natural sources is becoming less critical. “All told, RMI calculates that without this chemistry change, density improvement, and recycling buildout, the battery industry would have needed 58 percent more lithium in 2023.” One fact remains, recycled lithium still needs to be refined back into a battery-grade product. However, just as battery chemistry and recycling has improved, so too has refining technology. Utilizing Mangrove’s electrochemical refining process is more cost effective and sustainable than incumbent processes, further adding to the overall efficiency of the circular economy we all hope batteries can be. https://lnkd.in/gByPrK3H

As Carrie Klein reported in this Canary Media Inc. article, last year alone an additional 473 gigawatts of clean energy capacity was installed. The article goes on to report that “last year, renewables accounted for nearly 86 percent of new electricity capacity worldwide, according to new data from the International Renewable Energy Agency.” Though this milestone still falls shy of being on track to meet COP28’s goal for 2030, it is an impressive indicator of global transition to renewable energy, nonetheless. And in terms of lithium supply, this signals the need to utilize systems that favour renewably generated electricity. Mangrove’s lithium refining platform can be powered by energy generated from renewable sources. Mangrove requires no additional input chemicals and is energy efficient – creating a smaller carbon footprint than incumbent refining platforms. Lithium is a key ingredient in the transition to renewable energies, so the concept of refining lithium unsustainably is diametrically opposed to its ultimate intent. Utilizing electrochemistry to drive conversion makes sense economically and ecologically. https://lnkd.in/gHwuAB_u