On Monday, Tata Chemicals Limited (TCL), an Indian manufacturer of basic chemicals (Soda Ash, Sodium Bicarbonate) and consumer and specialty products, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for the transfer of lithium – ion cell technology from ISRO.
ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) has developed technology to manufacture different kinds of space-grade lithium ion cells to power its rockets and satellites. Under this MoU, ISRO would transfer the technology to Tata Chemicals in order to use the know-how to manufacture lithium-ion cells in India. VSSC, ISRO would provide this technology to TCL on a non-exclusive basis, to manufacture cells of varying capacity, size, energy density and power density–meeting a wide range of power storage needs.
With a transformation agenda based on innovation and sustainability, this move envisages leveraging advanced technology developed for wide commercial use in India and is consistent with the company’s strategy to grow its Speciality business.
Currently, Indian manufacturers import lithium-ion batteries from China, Japan and South Korea among some other countries. The country imported nearly US$ 150 million worth of Li-ion batteries in 2017.