Energy Storage Insights: Batteries, Solar, Lithium Film and More

The energy storage market has had a busy quarter so far. Lyten secured a domestic sulfur supply, Freyr Battery repositioned to solar, Elevated Materials entered the lithium film market, and Arrow Electronics expanded its battery management distribution.

Dukosi’s battery management technology is now distributed through Arrow Electronics. Image used courtesy of Dukosi

1. Lyten Bags Domestic Material for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Lyten has secured agreements with California Sulphur Company at the Port of Los Angeles and another supplier at the Port of Stockton to provide industrial-grade sulfur for its U.S. sites, including production facilities in San Leandro (acquired from Northvolt subsidiary Cuberg), San Jose, and a planned lithium-sulfur gigafactory in Nevada.

Lyten’s lithium-sulfur solution offers a high-performance alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries that rely on nickel, cobalt, and manganese, materials China currently controls. Unlike lithium-ion battery materials requiring 30,000 to 50,000 miles of transport during sourcing and production, Lyten’s sulfur can be processed within 100 miles of its U.S. plants. Additionally, its sulfur-based cathodes are 40% lighter than those in lithium-ion batteries and 70% lighter than lithium-iron phosphate components, boosting energy density and efficiency.

Lyten’s battery architecture. Image used courtesy of Lyten

Lyten recently received a $650 million letter of interest from the Export-Import Bank of the United States to support its lithium-sulfur battery production. In 2024, the company delivered pouch batteries to Stellantis and other manufacturers for testing and evaluation, with additional customers like Chrysler joining the lineup.

Phase 1 of Lyten’s Reno-area gigafactory will launch in 2027. It will focus on producing cathode active material and lithium-metal anodes and assembling lithium-sulfur cells in pouch and cylindrical formats. Once fully completed, the plant will have up to 10 GWh of annual capacity.

2. Freyr Scraps Battery Project in Favor of Solar Expansion

Norwegian battery maker Freyr Battery has abandoned its $2.6 billion factory project in Georgia and is pivoting to solar energy.

According to the Newnan Times-Herald, the company pointed to high interest rates, declining battery prices, and a leadership shakeup as contributing factors in discontinuing the Georgia plant. This comes as lithium-ion battery pack battery prices plummeted 20% last year to a record-low $115 per kWh—marking the sharpest annual drop since 2017, per BloombergNEF data.

Freyr Battery is now shifting its focus from battery manufacturing to solar and energy storage, rebranding to T1 Energy. The company cited the growing share of solar and battery storage resources in U.S. electric-generating capacity additions—about 81% in 2024.

T1 Energy aims to develop solar and storage infrastructure to meet rising electricity demand from domestic manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and data centers.

3. Elevated Materials: Spin-off to Develop Lithium Film Tech

Elevated Materials, backed by Applied Materials and TPG Rise Climate, launched earlier this month to develop ultra-thin lithium metal films to enhance battery performance. The company’s roll-to-roll vapor deposition process enables the production of lithium films with improved cycle life and up to 70% higher energy density, addressing two major challenges in electric vehicles, eVTOL aircraft, and grid storage.

Elevated Materials uses roll-to-roll vapor deposition to manufacture ultra-thin films (<1 to 20 µm) on substrates like copper, graphite, and silicon. This deposition method supports precise and scalable film formation. However, gains in energy density, cycle life, and compatibility with next-gen anodes depend on the company's material engineering and integration strategies.

Elevated Materials enters a competitive field where companies like Sion Power and Li-Metal Corp are also developing lithium thin films and lithium-metal anodes to enhance lithium-ion battery performance. Sion Power focuses on lithium-metal anodes for high-energy-density applications, while Li-Metal Corp specializes in advanced lithium anode materials and production.

Elevated Materials’ ultra-thin lithium films. Image used courtesy of Elevated Materials

4. Arrow Electronics Enters Battery Management Distribution

Arrow Electronics has partnered with Scotland-based Dukosi to distribute contactless cell monitoring technology for high-performance batteries used in EVs and energy storage systems.

Dukosi’s decentralized battery management system replaces traditional wired architectures with a secure deterministic communication protocol, enhancing system reliability, thermal management, and cell-level analytics. The product is also scalable for hundreds of cell monitors in single or multiple networks.

Dukosi’s Cell Monitoring System. Image used courtesy of Dukosi

Distribution through Arrow Electronics will bring Dukosi’s Cell Monitoring System to more customers worldwide.