Altrech's CERENERGY® battery demonstrates 28-year shelf-life
Published: 19:12 15 May 2025 EDT
Altech Batteries Ltd has confirmed the longevity of its CERENERGY® sodium-nickel-chloride battery technology, following a successful activation of a Zebra battery that had been in storage for 28 years.
The battery, which shares the same solid-state chemistry as CERENERGY®, hadn't been used since manufacture but showed no performance degradation when tested. The outcome points to strong potential for long-term storage applications, particularly in defence and emergency systems.
The battery, originally produced by AEG ZEBRA in Berlin, was heated to its activation temperature of 270 °C and began operating as expected. The test demonstrated the resilience of sodium-nickel-chloride chemistry, which relies on solid sodium aluminium chloride and nickel powder, sealed in a stable structure to prevent chemical breakdown over time.
Technology roots in Zebra batteries
CERENERGY® builds on Zebra battery technology, but with improved energy density. While earlier models delivered around 100 watt-hours (Wh), the current CERENERGY® cells provide 250Wh. The electrochemical design has remained consistent, supporting durability and reliability in extreme conditions.
Unlike lithium-ion batteries, which use liquid electrolytes that can degrade in storage, CERENERGY® batteries are inert at room temperature and only activate when heated. This characteristic supports their use in defence, emergency, and grid storage systems where long-term reliability is essential.
Ongoing tests confirm performance
Altech’s joint venture partner, the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS), is subjecting the old battery to daily charge-discharge cycles at 300 °C. Early results indicate continued stable performance.
Altech and Fraunhofer IKTS are planning a 120 megawatt-hour CERENERGY® production facility in Saxony, Germany.
In parallel, Altech is advancing its Silumina Anodes™ project to enhance lithium-ion battery performance for the European electric vehicle sector.
