Ecopro Inno and Hydro Quebec of Canada Jointly Develop 'Lithium Metal Anode'

Opportunity to Expand Business Scope Through Anode Material Development

EcoPro Innovation has signed a joint development agreement for lithium metal anodes with Hydro-Qu?bec of Canada. EcoPro Innovation, whose main business is lithium processing, has created an opportunity to expand its business area to anode material development through this agreement.

Lithium Metal Anode Joint Research and Development Agreement Ceremony. Provided by Ecopro

EcoPro Innovation and Hydro-Qu?bec announced on the 12th that they signed an agreement ceremony last week at the InterContinental Hotel in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, for the "Next-Generation Lithium Metal Anode Joint Development." The ceremony was attended by key executives from both companies, including Kim Yoon-tae, CEO of EcoPro Innovation; Pierre-Luc Maxime, Chief Research Officer of Hydro-Qu?bec; Damien Ferreira, representative of the Qu?bec government; and John Zimmerman, representative of the Canadian Embassy, as well as officials from the Canadian provincial government.

EcoPro Innovation and Hydro-Qu?bec plan to conduct joint research for the development of next-generation lithium metal anodes following this agreement. They intend to combine EcoPro Innovation’s lithium processing expertise with Hydro-Qu?bec’s metal anode research achievements to collaborate on lithium metal anode development.

EcoPro Innovation contributes to enhancing the performance of ternary batteries through a process that converts lithium carbonate into high-purity lithium hydroxide. It has a production capacity of 26,000 tons per year of lithium hydroxide and has supplied a total of 32,000 tons of lithium hydroxide to battery cell manufacturers such as Samsung SDI since 2022.

Hydro-Qu?bec is a power company owned by the government of Qu?bec, Canada, operating a research institute with extensive experience in battery material development. Since the early 1980s, the institute has made pioneering investments in lithium metal anode and all-solid-state battery fields. Notably, through joint research with Nobel Chemistry laureate Professor John Goodenough, it has played a significant role in developing and commercializing the core technology of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode materials.

Lithium metal has an energy density approximately ten times greater than graphite, which is mainly used as an anode material, and experts expect it to contribute to extending the driving range of electric vehicles. However, commercialization has faced challenges due to its high cost and relatively fragile lifespan.

The two companies plan to establish a pilot facility for lithium metal anode production for secondary batteries by 2026 and subsequently build a semi-mass production pilot facility.

EcoPro Innovation plans to expand its business area from lithium hydroxide production to lithium metal anodes as a future growth engine through this agreement. CEO Kim said, “Through this agreement, Innovation is expected to expand its business area from lithium processing to lithium metal anode development, thereby taking the lead in all-solid-state batteries as well.”

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