Tallinn-based Skeleton Technologies, a company that manufactures and develops high-energy and power-density ultracapacitors, has announced the launch of a SuperBattery and unveiled Shell as its partner.
According to the Estonian company, it is joining a group led by Shell to provide electricity options for mining locations.
Founded in 2009 by Oliver Ahlberg and Taavi Madiberk, Skeleton Technologies is a manufacturer and developer of high-energy and power-density ultracapacitors based on a patented curved graphene material. Through the use of nanoporous carbide-derived carbon, or ‘curved graphene’, the company claims to have achieved breakthroughs in ultracapacitor performance.
The company says it delivers its solutions across industries, including automotive, transportation, grid, and industrial applications. Its ultracapacitors deliver twice the energy density and four times the power density offered by other manufacturers.
By producing ultracapacitor cells, modules, and systems, Skeleton Technologies aim to help companies to reduce CO2 emissions and save energy.
Skeleton Technologies Group has four main locations – manufacturing in Großröhrsdorf, sales in Berlin, materials development in Bitterfeld-Wolfen, and electrical engineering and module development in Tallinn, Estonia. In 2024, the company will open the largest supercapacitor factory in the world in Markranstädt, Germany.
The technology known as SuperBattery combines the advantages of batteries and supercapacitors. SuperBattery was created in order to meet the demands of many industries. It is now being utilised and/or tested in fuel cell and hybrid electric vehicles, buses, trucks, and charging infrastructure.
Taavi Madiberk, CEO and co-founder of Skeleton Technologies, says, “Skeleton goes after the high-power part of the energy storage market and we estimate the addressable market size to be €95B. Now, the key is to move ahead with the scale-up and we aim to develop our business around SuperBattery through key partners such as Shell.”
According to Skeleton Technologies, the best strategy to minimise operating emissions in mining is through electrification and renewable energy sources. For the mining sector, electrification of heavy-duty applications is both a requirement and a significant difficulty.
Grischa Sauerberg, Vice President of Sectoral Decarbonisation and Innovation at Shell, says, “The challenge of decarbonisation is immense, but not impossible – providing collaboration and innovation go hand in hand at all times. We are proud to work alongside Skeleton – and our consortium members – to develop a new pilot offering of electrification solutions for off-road vehicles and to demonstrate how partnership and close collaboration can help mining businesses meet their environmental goals. Skeleton’s technology, providing ultrafast charging at ~< 90 seconds, means the solution can help mining companies reduce emissions without compromising on efficiency.”