POSCO Targets 'Battery Future' with All-Solid-State Battery... Groundbreaking of Core Material Solid Electrolyte Plant

On the 14th in Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
Groundbreaking Ceremony for Solid Electrolyte Factory
Core Material for Future All-Solid-State Batteries
Annual Production of 24 Tons

Choi Jung-woo, Chairman of POSCO Group

POSCO Group has begun construction of a solid electrolyte factory, a core material of the ‘all-solid-state battery’ hailed as the future of electric vehicle batteries, aiming to secure a leading position in the next-generation battery market.

On the 14th, POSCO held a groundbreaking ceremony for the factory in Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do. The ceremony was attended by Lee Kyung-seop, Head of Secondary Battery Materials Business, and Kim Tae-heung, CEO of POSCO JK Solid Solution, among others.

All-solid-state batteries are next-generation batteries that replace the liquid electrolyte and separator?two of the four main materials of lithium-ion batteries (cathode, anode, electrolyte, separator)?with solid-state ion-conductive materials. The market is expected to grow significantly starting in 2030. Since they do not use highly flammable liquid electrolytes, the risk of explosion is greatly reduced, enhancing safety. Additionally, the use of high-energy-density cathode and anode materials enables a revolutionary increase in electric vehicle driving range.

POSCO Group declared its transformation into a leading eco-friendly future materials company with the launch of its holding company, POSCO Holdings. The secondary battery materials business is one of the group’s seven core businesses. Along with expanding cathode and anode material production capacity, the group plans to develop materials for all-solid-state batteries to secure a leading position in the next-generation battery materials market.

Last month, POSCO Holdings jointly invested with Jungkwan, a company possessing top-tier solid electrolyte technology in Korea, to establish POSCO JK Solid Solution, a joint venture producing solid electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries.

The factory POSCO JK Solid Solution is constructing in Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, is expected to produce 24 tons of solid electrolyte annually starting in the second half of this year. Considering the current solid electrolyte market size, this production capacity is among the highest globally. POSCO JK Solid Solution plans to promote joint development of all-solid-state batteries with global battery manufacturers through mass production of prototypes at the Yangsan factory and expand production capacity in line with the growth speed of the all-solid-state battery market.

Based on cooperation with global customers, POSCO Group plans to expand cathode and anode material production capacity to 680,000 tons by 2030 and leap to a global top-tier position by securing leading technologies such as all-solid-state battery materials.

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