Integrals Power to Supply Cathode Material for UK LMFP Battery Project

UK battery materials company Integrals Power has been selected as the cathode active material supplier for a £2-million government-funded project to develop lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) battery technology.

What Happened

The 30-month program is led by battery supplier Denchi Group and funded through the Battery Innovation Programme. Integrals Power will produce hundreds of kilos of its manganese-rich LMFP cathode material at its multi-tonne facility in Milton Keynes. The material will go into pouch and cylindrical cells manufactured on the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre's Flexible Pilot Line in Coventry, including 21700 and 4695 formats. Denchi will then assemble the cells into battery packs at its Thurso, Scotland plant, including the BB-2590 design—a rugged, waterproof pack built for military communications equipment, sensors, and drones. Initial validation trials will replace the nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) cells in existing BB-2590 packs with the new LMFP cells.

Why It Matters

Integrals Power's LMFP has a manganese content of 80%, delivering up to 20% greater energy density than conventional lithium iron phosphate, according to the company. The program uses an end-to-end UK and European-based supply chain—a notable consideration given that China currently dominates global LFP supply. The International Energy Agency estimates that a halt in battery supply chain exports from China would cost EV plants outside the country approximately $17 billion per month in lost output. Integrals Power regards this project as a demonstrator for the sovereign capability needed for defense applications within NATO, while also serving electric vehicle markets.

The Bottom Line

The project positions UK-based production of LMFP—a chemistry that eliminates cobalt and nickel—for both military and automotive use. Validation trials are expected to begin with BB-2590 pack replacements before expanding to broader applications.