MILTON KEYNES — UK battery technology company Integrals Power has been selected to supply its patented manganese-rich Lithium Manganese Iron Phosphate (LMFP) cathode material to OLiMPUS, a €9 million Horizon Europe project working to develop and industrialise cost-effective, safe and sustainable LMFP battery cells built on a European supply chain.
Under the agreement, Integrals Power will provide more than 150 kg of LMFP cathode active material and take responsibility for scaling up and industrialising the manufacturing process, alongside supporting cell prototyping and performance validation. Following the project’s completion, mass production of LMFP cells in Europe is targeted by 2032, with electric vehicles and maritime as the main applications.
A European alternative to Chinese battery supply chains
Coordinated by the Norwegian research organisation SINTEF, OLiMPUS brings together 16 partners from across the battery value chain. They include Volvo Trucks, engineering and manufacturing group Magna Steyr, and cell manufacturer Verkor, alongside synthetic graphite anode supplier Vianode and maritime energy storage specialist Corvus Energy.
The project runs until 2030 and will produce more than 130 automotive-grade cells on SINTEF’s pilot lines and at Verkor’s Gigafactory facilities. The cells will be built in both pouch and prismatic form factors, in capacities from 10 to 80Ah, targeting energy density of up to 220Wh/kg.
Integrals Power Founder and CEO, Behnam Hormozi, said in a statement: “Our participation in OLiMPUS is the clearest demonstration yet that Integrals Power’s patented LMFP technology is a key enabler for establishing sovereign battery capability in the UK and Europe. Third-party testing has already proven its high energy density, cycle life, and cold weather performance, and this project represents the next milestone in its development as we optimise the materials and processes for scale-up.
“A successful transition from fossil fuels to clean energy sources can only be achieved with a robust, transparent, sustainable, and cost-effective battery supply chain, and that requires alternatives to cell chemistries and manufacturing reliant on critical minerals and Chinese technology. The OLiMPUS project is laying the foundations for this, and we are extremely proud to be a part of it.”
The case for LMFP
Integrals Power’s LMFP material carries a high manganese content of 80%, which the company says enables up to 20% greater energy density than conventional LFP while keeping the cost, safety and long cycle life that make LFP attractive. Because it uses no nickel or cobalt, it is positioned as a lower-cost alternative to NMC, still the dominant cell chemistry for EVs from European and North American carmakers.
On cost, OLiMPUS forecasts cell-level pricing of €56-65/kWh and pack-level pricing of €67-75/kWh. According to McKinsey figures cited in the project, that compares favourably with the roughly €64/kWh some Chinese manufacturers achieve at pack level for LFP, and €82/kWh for NMC. With China dominating global production of both chemistries, the partners argue that establishing LMFP manufacturing in Europe offers industries a home-grown option that balances performance with affordability.
Sustainability gains and a maritime opening
Sustainability sits at the centre of the project’s design. Water replaces the toxic and highly flammable NMP solvent used in conventional electrode coatings, a semi-dry coating process cuts the energy needed for drying, and the synthetic graphite anode further lowers the overall carbon footprint. Measured against a benchmark NMC811 chemistry, OLiMPUS is forecast to cut lifecycle CO2-equivalent emissions by around 1.8 million tonnes by 2050.
Beyond EVs, the project is targeting shipping — a sector under acute pressure to decarbonise. Most of the global fleet still runs on fossil fuels, and according to the IEA, shipping accounts for around 5% of the world’s total oil consumption. Battery-electric propulsion suits many vessel types, and Integrals Power sees LMFP’s balance of energy density, safety and cost as well matched to the application. Maritime and automotive are core markets for the company’s LMFP and LFP cathode materials, alongside defence and grid-scale energy storage.
