To form a partnership where they will work together to develop secure, high-density rechargeable solid-state Lithium battery systems for regional aircraft and urban air mobility, the leading aerospace company, Sonaca, and the Belgian solid-state Lithium battery technology company, SOLiTHOR, have signed a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding. Together with defence equipment, this agreement will also include satellite systems.

 

The research, development, production, and integration of cells and battery systems intended to power aeroplanes will be divided among the members of this alliance. As the company moves forward, SOLiTHOR will be in charge of cell research, development, testing characterisation, format design, and production of 10Ah-40Ah cells. The battery packing as well as the associated management systems will be developed by Sonaca. The battery system will also be certified by it.

 

At Sint-Truiden, Flanders, Belgium, SOLiTHOR will manufacture and produce the cells, while Sonaca's plant in Charleroi, Wallonia, Belgium, will integrate the aeroplane battery systems.

 

By 2035, Sonaca wants to actively contribute to the creation of a low-carbon aeroplane, and by 2050, it wants to be carbon neutral. Because of this, the industry is under pressure to develop low-noise and energy-efficient aircraft engines in order to meet these lofty objectives.

 

This would enable the sector to utilise smaller regional airports more efficiently and help address their global underutilization, particularly in the USA and Europe.

 

For all regional aircraft and urban air transportation applications, SOLiTHOR and Sonaca are confident that their complementing skills will lead to the biggest improvements in solid-state lithium battery systems technology.