FINLAND (News release) -- Ahlstrom-Munksjö advances further into the energy storage market by signing a marketing license with Soteria Battery Innovation Group (BIG), allowing the company to proceed with the technical ramp-up to manufacture fiber-based separator solutions to the lithium-ion battery industry. The agreement is an important step in the commercialization of Ahlstrom-Munksjö's solutions to the energy storage market.

"This demonstrates our confidence in our ability to supply the lithium-ion battery market with a safe and efficient fiber-based separator. It is a milestone for our partnership with Soteria BIG," says Bertrand Rupin, Head of Business Development, Energy Storage at Ahlstrom-Munksjö.

Demand for energy storage is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, driven by vehicle electrification, a shift towards renewable energy, an increasing demand in stationary applications and effective electricity supply chain management. Fiber-based materials are widely used in energy storage devices and thanks to its extensive expertise in cellulose, microglass and specialty nonwoven materials, Ahlstrom-Munksjö is developing a complete range of solutions to its customers under the FortiCell® product platform.

Soteria Battery Innovation Group is an industry consortium dedicated to enabling portable electric power without the risk of fires, no matter the circumstances. The Soteria BIG architecture uses thermally stable separators made from advanced fibers, and combining them with current collectors that are engineered to be unstable under the giant current densities associated with internal shorts. The architecture will provide the same electrical protection as a fuse on the inside of each battery.

"We are very excited to welcome Ahlstrom-Munksjö as a licensee, and look forward to helping them use their global reach and unique capabilities to bring products to the market using the Dreamweaver separator technology to enhance lithium ion battery safety," says Brian Morin, CEO at Soteria BIG.

Ahlstrom-Munksjö continues to develop its offering for the energy storage industry. The latest addition was the FortiCell® LAB range, a portfolio of fiber-based solutions for Lead Acid Battery applications launched in the second half of 2020.