As sustainability takes centre stage across industries, companies are forced to reimagine their products to be more eco-conscious. For innovative tech company Sparc Technologies (ASX: SPN), it is an opportunity to fill a market need. So, it has signed an agreement with the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) to develop materials for sodium ion batteries by employing a hard carbon production process using low cost sustainably sourced green bio-waste.

These batteries will have significant potential for grid scale storage and mobile applications. The hard carbon materials will be tested in a Sodium ion cell format at QUT’s facilities for battery development and testing, including the National Battery Testing Centre and Central Analytical Research Facility (CARF). 

The Company has also brought an experienced battery technology consultant on board to advise on the project and help out with its commercialisation.

Sparc Managing Director, Mike Bartels detailed, “Using readily available, sustainable bio-waste material will provide Sparc with a strong environmental value proposition when compared with conventional sources of hard carbon.”

“We will be targeting the production of materials for the high growth market of Sodium ion batteries which is displaying significant promise as an alternative to Lithium ion batteries. In addition to enhanced safety for industrial scale energy storage, of great significance is the fact that the materials used in Sodium ion batteries are accessible and not challenged in supply as is the case with Lithium ion batteries.”

The Sustainable Hard Carbon Anode project complements Sparc’s existing businesses in graphene and renewable energy. According to Bartels, this project is also a natural fit with Sparc’s photocatalytic green hydrogen project.

Existing hard carbon materials are typically sourced from carbon-heavy sources, such as the oil and gas industry. These undergo lengthy heating processes, which can be very energy consuming. The new high performing, low cost material being created by QUT and Sparc is meeting a need for the growing alternative battery tech market. 

To add to that, this project is aimed at making Australia more self-reliant in terms of sustainable battery technology as China is currently the world’s dominant supplier of hard carbon materials. Through this undertaking, Sparc is aiming to create an alternative western supply source, thus reducing sovereign risk for cell manufacturers. Along with Sparc, many other companies, like Northvolt—which is using wood-based products to produce sustainable batteries, are also trying to localise supply chains to reduce reliance on China.

For Sparc, producing materials for Sodium ion battery tech has another advantage. Currently, compared to Lithium technology, fewer companies are creating Sodium battery technology. It gives Sparch the opportunity to leverage its knowledge of graphene materials and production processes to make an impact.

Pointing to this collaboration, QUT Lead researcher A/Prof. Deepak Dubal, School of Chemistry and Physics concluded, “We very much welcome Sparc as a partner with the first project being associated with sustainably sourced bio-waste producing anode material. We expect this will open the door to many more exciting R&D opportunities between us.”