Beyonder’s battery cell technology is a game-changer

Conventional Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries and capacitors are the current industry standard for rechargeable power storage and delivery. These two technologies represent the extremes of high energy density and high power density. Each have their limitations, but in combination they may be a perfect fit for certain applications.

The Beyonder LiC combines the capacitive cathode of a supercapacitor and the battery-type anode of Li-ion battery, optimising the benefits of each technology. Beyonder’s technology exploits the strength of Li-ion batteries and capacitors on cell level in a hybrid battery cell. This provides a faster charge and higher power density than Li-ion batteries, and a significantly higher energy density than capacitors.

Beyonder has developed a patented process of converting sustainable forestry residue, namely sawdust from pine and spruce, into super-activated carbon for use in the capacitor’s positive electrode. The negative electrode uses silicon derived from sand, which is both renewable and recyclable.

Beyonder’s LiC is durable and suitable even for the Nordic low-temperature environment. The LiC’s high-capacity silicon anode provides a high specific energy. The use of a wood-derived activated carbon cathode enables the LiC to operate at higher specific power, with greater durability compared to Li-ion batteries. The LiC is non-flammable, and batteries with LiC cells can be fully charged in two minutes and recharged up to 100 000 times.

The transition to renewable energy sources must be technologically feasible and commercially viable. Beyonder’s hybrid battery cell technology is a more cost-effective and sustainable way to supply electric power for renewable energy grids, transportation and offshore energy infrastructure where high power and fast charging is needed.

Moreover, compared with standard Li-ion cell production, fewer chemicals and less energy are used to manufacture Beyonder’s LiC.

According to a forecast by BloombergNEF, the worldwide demand for energy storage is expected to multiply by 122 times in the next 20 years, compared to what it is today.

Beyonder has established a battery centre with research and development, laboratories, production testing and prototype production in Stavanger, Norway. The company will open its first separate, full-scale commercial production facility at a suitable location in the Stavanger region in 2024.