A UK government-backed battery project is set to strengthen the nation’s domestic battery manufacturing capability after Integrals Power was selected to supply its patented Lithium Manganese Iron Phosphate (LMFP) cathode active material for a new £2m programme targeting defence and automotive applications.
The 30-month initiative, led by specialist battery manufacturer Denchi, will see Milton Keynes-based Integrals Power manufacture and supply hundreds of kilograms of its manganese-rich LMFP material for the development of advanced battery cells. The project is backed through the Battery Innovation Programme, delivered by Innovate UK and supported by the Department for Business and Trade as part of the government’s Industrial Strategy.
The programme aims to demonstrate a fully integrated UK battery supply chain, with cells manufactured on the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre’s (UKBIC) new Flexible Pilot Line in Coventry before being assembled into battery packs at Denchi’s facility in Thurso, Scotland.
Designed for defence and automotive applications, the project will produce hundreds of pouch and cylindrical battery cells, including 21700 and 4695 formats, showcasing UK capability across the battery value chain.
Integrals Power’s LMFP chemistry is designed to offer higher energy density than conventional Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries while avoiding the use of critical minerals such as cobalt and nickel. The company says the material can also be produced using raw materials sourced from Europe and North America, helping to improve supply chain resilience.
Behnam Hormozi, Founder and CEO of Integrals Power, said: “Our involvement in this programme reflects the growing recognition that LMFP will transform battery performance, cost, and supply chain resilience.
“By eliminating reliance on critical minerals such as cobalt and nickel while delivering higher energy density than LFP, LMFP is well suited to the evolving requirements of both defence and automotive applications. We are proud to contribute our materials expertise to a project that is helping to advance secure, sustainable battery technologies in the UK and beyond.”
The first validation trials will retrofit Denchi’s existing BB-2590 military battery packs with the new LMFP cells, replacing the Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) chemistry currently used. The ruggedised battery packs are designed for military applications including communications equipment, unmanned systems and backup power for aircraft and marine platforms.
According to Denchi, the project represents the first programme of its kind to demonstrate that UK suppliers can deliver an end-to-end battery solution for defence applications.
Andrew Cowie, CEO of Denchi Group, said: “With more than 20 years’ experience supplying the military with British designed and built battery systems, we have a very clear understanding of what the defence sector needs as electrification becomes a core element of future strategy.
“Sovereign capability is absolutely paramount, and by working in partnership on this programme with Integrals Power, UKBIC, and the UK government, we are playing our part in delivering exactly that. We look forward to building the first LMFP battery packs and getting them out into the field for validation trials.”
The initiative also reflects wider efforts to build a more resilient UK battery supply chain as manufacturers seek alternatives to overseas sourcing. China currently dominates global LFP battery production, making domestic capability an increasing strategic priority for both defence and automotive sectors.
Sean Gilgunn, Managing Director at UKBIC, said: “Collaboration across the UK battery ecosystem is essential to translating innovation into long-term, strategic capability.
“Our new Flexible Pilot Line has a key role to play because it enables customers to accelerate the cost-effective scale-up of their technologies. Supporting the development of LMFP cells within an integrated UK supply chain is an important step towards strengthening long-term competitiveness in a broad range of sectors, including defence and automotive.”
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