WOC-Led Enerpoly Opens World’s First Zinc-Ion Battery Megafactory—A Win For Clean Energy Sector
Enerpoly, a cutting-edge battery technology company led by Eloisa de Castro, has opened the world’s first zinc-ion battery megafactory.
This new facility, located in Rosersberg, near Stockholm, is a massive step in the global efforts to transition from reliance on fossil fuels to renewable energy.
Safer, Greener Batteries
Batteries are vital to the transition away from fossil fuels, but energy storage needs to increase six-fold to meet COP28 goals of tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030.
The new 6,500m² Enerpoly Production Innovation Center (EPIC) aims to produce 100 MWh of zinc-ion batteries annually by 2026— enough energy to power around 20,000 homes.
Enerpoly’s batteries offer a safer, more sustainable, and affordable alternative to traditional lithium-ion batteries.
Unlike lithium-ion batteries, which rely on expensive and scarce materials, zinc-ion batteries use abundant materials like zinc and manganese, making them a more environmentally friendly option.
“Our new facility is a major milestone in our mission to revolutionize the energy industry,” Enerpoly’s CEO, Eloisa de Castro, in a statement. “With EPIC, we are focused on driving sustainable innovation and meeting the growing demand for renewable energy storage.”
From Space to Clean Energy
Originally an aerospace engineer, de Castro spent her early career designing power systems for NASA and the Department of Defense. Her work in space, where solar power and battery energy storage are critical, inspired her to focus on renewable energy on Earth.
“When I transitioned to engineering and operations within the energy and infrastructure industry, I saw first-hand that the cost-effectiveness of energy storage is the bottleneck for renewable energy adoption,” de Castro shared in an interview with the European Innovation Council (EIC).
This realization led her to join forces with Dr Mylad Chamoun and Dr Samer Nameer, co-founders of Enerpoly.
A Breakthrough in Battery Technology
In 2018, Chamoun made a key breakthrough while pursuing his PhD at Stockholm University.
He discovered how to make rechargeable batteries using the same low-cost, abundant materials found in single-use alkaline batteries, like those in AAA batteries. This discovery laid the foundation for Enerpoly’s technology.
The company has since raised €15.1 million ($16.6 million) in funding and recently bought a production line and recruited two former executives from its rival, Northvolt.
Image credit: Enerpoly
