Today, the start of the SLDBatt consortium, the largest Dutch R&D initiative focused on long-duration storage of renewable electricity, was announced. The consortium was officially launched during a symposium in Rotterdam, opened by Sophie Hermans, the Dutch Minister for Climate and Green Growth (demissionair).

Supported by over €20 million in funding from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland) and totalling €30 million, SLDBatt aims to strengthen the Dutch manufacturing industry’s position in the global battery value chain, with sustainability, material independence, and circularity at its core.

The consortium brings together leading knowledge institutions and industry partners, including University of Twente, TU Delft, Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), HAN University of Applied Sciences, Battery Competence Cluster NL (BCC-NL), and innovative companies such as AQUABATTERY, Elestor, Exergy Storage, RWE, and Nobian. Together, we aim to develop battery systems capable of storing renewable energy for 8 to 100 hours, addressing one of the most critical challenges in the energy transition: reliable and affordable energy supply when wind and solar are not available. Within this program, Nobian is collaborating closely with Exergy Storage, who will be responsible for testing our materials.

Coert van Lare, Director Innovation Program Renewable and Circular at Nobian, says:
"With our expertise in high-purity battery chemicals like lithium and sodium-based compounds, Nobian provides essential materials for safer, more efficient, and sustainable energy storage. By advancing innovative processes, we help strengthen the battery value chain and support the transition to a low-carbon future."

The importance of this collaboration was also highlighted by Guido Mul, University of Twente, who stated: “The SLDBatt consortium is a key driver for developing and scaling cost-efficient, socially responsible technologies for storing sustainably generated electricity. This funding allows us to take significant steps in improving various technologies and determining the best implementation scenarios, for example to prevent grid congestion or make Dutch industry more sustainable.”

About SLDBatt

The name SLDBatt stands for Sustainable Long Duration Battery Technology. The consortium was formed following the Groeifonds application Material Independence & Circular Batteries and is coordinated by Battery Competence Cluster NL (BCC-NL). It brings together three technical universities, one university of applied sciences, three technology development companies, and two internationally operating energy and chemical companies. 

STARBATCH project

This partnership builds on Nobian’s ongoing commitment to sustainable battery solutions, exemplified by the STARBATCH project, where Nobian collaborates with Exergy Storage, University of Twente, and ISPT, and Demcon to develop an energy-efficient production process for sodium-based batteries, a promising and more sustainable alternative to lithium-based materials.