CSIR's CECRI and Raasi Solar POwer Join Hands to Produce India's First Indigenous Lithium Ion Batteries

A memorandum of understanding for transfer of technology for India’s first Lithium Ion (Li-ion) Battery project was signed between CSIR’s Central Electro Chemical Research Institute (CECRI), Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu and RAASI Solar Power Pvt Ltd. With this MoU sign up, soon production of India's first indigenous Lithium Ion batteries will become a reality.

According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, the indigenous technology of Lithium-ion cells has been developed by a group of CSIR-CECRI headed by Dr Gopu Kumar in partnership with CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL) New Delhi, CSIR- Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CSIR-CGCRI) Kolkata and Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT) Hyderabad.

“CSIR-CECRI has set up a demo facility in Chennai to manufacture prototype Lithium-Ion cells. It has secured global IPRs with the potential to enable cost reduction, coupled with appropriate supply chain and manufacturing technology for mass production,” a Science and Technology Ministry release said.

At present India depends on countries like China, Japan, and South Korea for import of Lithium-Ion batteries. India imported Li-Ion batteries worth $150 million in 2017 and is one of its largest importers in the world.

Speaking after the signing of MoUs, Union Science and technology minister Harsh Vardhan said: “Today’s development is a validation of the capabilities of CSIR and its laboratories to meet technology in critical areas to support our industry, besides other sectors.”