Altech Batteries (ATC) has taken a giant leap forward in its clean energy journey, securing preliminary approval for a €46.7 million (USD 54.4 million) grant to power its groundbreaking CERENERGY® sodium-chloride solid-state battery project in Saxony, Germany.
The green light comes from Germany’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy under the STARK program a national initiative designed to reinvent coal-dependent regions as hubs of renewable energy innovation.
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A game-changing moment for Altech
The €46.7 million grant, covering 30 per cent of the project’s capital expenditure (excluding financing and working capital), will help fast-track the development of next-generation battery technology. Importantly, the support is conditional on financial close and the German parliament’s approval of the 2026 federal budget. Having already cleared the second stage of the government’s approval process, Altech is now firmly positioned on the path to transforming Saxony into a beacon of sustainable energy solutions.
Altech is actively pursuing a variety of funding streams from German state and federal authorities, as well as the European Union, to fuel its clean energy vision. The CERENERGY® project is rooted in Saxony a region once dependent on lignite coal but now at the forefront of Germany’s sweeping energy transformation. Through the STARK program, Germany is fast-tracking technologies that drive both ecological progress and economic renewal.
By anchoring its production facility in this industrial heartland, Altech is poised to tap into financial incentives while drawing on Saxony’s highly skilled workforce. More importantly, the project is designed to become a pillar of Europe’s transition to grid-scale renewable storage, aligning perfectly with Brussels’ mission to reduce fossil fuel reliance and strengthen energy independence.
CERENERGY® sodium-chloride solid-state battery
At the core of this innovation is the CERENERGY® sodium-chloride solid-state battery, which uses ordinary table salt as a key ingredient. By eliminating dependence on critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, graphite, and copper, Altech shields itself from raw material price swings and global supply chain risks offering Europe a truly resilient energy storage solution. The CERENERGY® batteries are designed to be fire- and explosion-proof, capable of performing in extreme climates and delivering a service life of more than 15 years. To bring this vision to scale, Altech is planning a 120-megawatt-hour production facility in Saxony, focused on supplying robust modules for grid storage markets.
Pushing the boundaries of lithium-ion
Alongside this, Altech is advancing its Silumina Anodes project, which leverages a proprietary high-purity alumina coating on silicon for lithium-ion batteries. This breakthrough has been proven to boost both energy density and battery life. Backed by a Definitive Feasibility Study and green accreditation, the company is preparing for an 8,000-tonne-per-annum plant to commercialize the technology. Altech’s development pipeline provides a unique dual exposure: CERENERGY® as a long-term solution for grid-scale renewable storage, and Silumina Anodes as a performance upgrade for the fast-growing electric vehicle market. Together, these projects form a powerful twin-track strategy positioning Altech as a leading supplier of next-generation battery technologies across Europe.
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Image Source: Altech Batteries website
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