Hydro-Québec pulls in $22M in licensing fees for manufacture of Li-ion rechargeable battery materials in Q3
30 November 2011
In the third quarter of 2011, Hydro-Québec generated $22 million from the granting of sub-licenses for the manufacture of Li-ion rechargeable battery materials.
In July, Hydro-Québec, Université de Montréal and the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (France’s national center for scientific research), co-owners of the rights to key patents on lithium metal phosphate (LMP), including lithium iron phosphate (LFP), announced that they had broadened the base for the international marketing of these battery materials, in conjunction with Munich-based Süd-Chemie AG. (Earlier post.)
The co-owners can now grant sub-licenses to LMP manufacturers capable of meeting market demand with quality products. Contracts have already been signed with Japanese entities Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd. and Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. as well as with Taiwanese companies Tatung Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd. and Advanced Lithium Electrochemistry Co., Ltd. The latter has undertaken to build a plant in Québec. Süd-Chemie is already building a plant in Candiac through its subsidiary Phostech Lithium Inc.
(A hat-tip to Bob!)
Over the years, materials for LMP batteries have been improved and are still the subject of further research to retain a viable market share.
Too bad that Hydro-Québec is not taking a more pro-active role in the local introduction of electrified vehicles and charge stations. That may change in 2012 with a sizable clean (Hydro) energy surplus for the next 5+ years or so.
Posted by: HarveyD | 30 November 2011 at 09:42 AM