Investigating the use of acoustic mixing for anode production

Batri is replacing the energy-hungry wet-dry milling process for battery anodes with a single dry step that uses sound waves to mix powder precursors. This matters because making battery materials currently consumes large amounts of electricity—both in the milling equipment itself and in the drying stages that follow. Acoustic mixing (AM) uses sound energy to vibrate and blend powders without liquid, cutting both processing time and energy demand. The company is applying this to sodium-ion cells, which already avoid the supply-chain and cost problems of lithium. If the project succeeds, it could lower the manufacturing cost and carbon footprint of stationary energy storage—the large batteries that stabilise electricity grids and store renewable power. That would make grid-scale storage cheaper and more sustainable, helping the UK shift away from fossil fuels without relying on scarce or expensive materials. The change is in the factory, not in the product: consumers would not notice the difference, but the energy system would quietly become more efficient.