Member Info for economist2023

Nice article about Hypromag Germany here: https://bnn.de/pforzheim/wie-eine-erfindung-aus-pforzheim-die-abhaengigkeit-von-china-reduzieren-soll

It includes the following interesting pieces of information:

- “Nevertheless, the team around the professor has big plans. In the short term, the number of employees is expected to increase to 20. At the end of 2027, when 750 tons are to be reworked annually, those responsible already plan to work with 90 employees.”

- “Shortly after the official inauguration, things really start in the second quarter. According to the statements of the 60-year-old, there is enough material for the Pforzheim plant for the entire first year. ”

On a separate but related note, this article came out today which outlines the increasing demand for LDES in Europe: https://www.powermag.com/europe-embraces-energy-storage-to-enhance-power-flexibility/

Seems Invinity has a project in Austria - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/invinity-energy-systems_we-welcomed-wildburger-power-storage-to-activity-7455689911401091073-uzM7?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAzhrf0B9dsAiDy1Rqtez-z7KjWlS-Dd8nY

This appears to relate to a partnership with Wildburger Power and Storage - see https://wildburger-powerstorage.eu/. At the bottom of the webpage it says (translated from German "Wildburger Power & Storage, as general contractor, with the support of Wildburger Elektrotechnik and partner companies, builds and manages energy systems from Invinity").

Wildburger is led by Dr. Josef Wildburger who interestingly was a founder of the company that ultimately became Invinity (through M&A), although it isn't clear whether he has a significant shareholding anymore.

Would be nice if Invinity would provide an update to us but seems they are determined to wait until the cap and floor IDL before sharing any news with shareholders.

Invinity has poached another hire from Eos Energy - this time the Director of Sales https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerald-donovan/

Surely news due soon.

Are you sure you have not mixed up GW and GWh in these calculations? By my calculations, Vanadium flow and Vanadium Flow / Zinc projects account for 12% of projects that made it through to this stage in terms of MW.

Sharing an interesting interview published today of the CEO of Critical Minerals Group, an Australian producer of vanadium electrolyte for VFBs. Lots of interesting discussion in the interview including on growing global demand for VFBs and why they are more suited to data centers than Lithium batteries.

I want to highlight what he said about UK demand from around 11:50 onwards:

- UK battery manufacturers have been engaging with CMG to secure supply of vanadium electrolyte to the UK

- UK government export finance groups are working to bring CMG's vanadium electrolyte manufacturing technology to the UK including through helping CMG with identifying sites for vanadium electrolyte plants in the UK

Interview is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN2wz24M9Ng

Love it!

Just to add to GLR's list, I believe that the EC should be announcing the results of the next round of CRMA strategic project awards this month, and I think it is likely that Hypromag Germany (and possibly also UK) applied and will receive CRMA strategic project status.

Esduk, I fully agree with your point about AI but the point about buying out Birmingham University in order to increase capacity is taken directly from the updated corporate presentation - the footnote 2 on slide 7 says “20-25t pa initial target is due to 20% capacity utilization restriction whilst the equipment and infrastructure is owned by the University of Birmingham”. Personally I don’t paste AI-based research on this forum as I have my doubts about its reliability, but understand it can be useful sometimes.

Agree with everyone's frustrations towards management regarding the raise. And hope we don't overpay for whatever we are acquiring in Germany.

In other news, Mkango has uploaded their new corporate presentation to the website: https://mkango.ca/site/assets/files/5150/mkango_presentation_final_260331_-_website.pdf

From a quick skim I noted the following:

- Germany commissioning is "imminent"

- It seems that Mkango need to buy out the University of Birmingham in order to scale production in the UK. Slides indicate that will happen in mid-2026.

- Hypromag US Nasdaq listing still slated for late 2025 / early 2026.

- Nothing new on the SPAC but still set to close in Q2.

Yes, hopefully we get good news on cap and floor, with initial decision list expected in April. I’m just frustrated there hasn’t been any other news in the meantime. I still believe cap and floor will be transformative for Invinity, assuming they are awarded some project - feels like everything is riding on that now for IES.

It’s very disappointing how few updates we’ve had since the new year, in my opinion.

While we await some sort of update (presumably we will get a Q1 trading update at the end of the month), just sharing a few LinkedIn post from the Invinity recruiter that indicate hiring, and hopefully therefore indicate sales.

- From three weeks ago: "With some exciting new contracts coming in, I am looking to add another key role to our Operations team - another Production Engineering Manager reporting to our VP of Operations."

- From four days ago: "Big change (and opportunity!) in our Scottish 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 based production team at Invinity Energy Systems . Our much-valued Senior Production Planner is heading overseas. We have opened his role to applicants . This is a super visible role within our manufacturing operation, helping us plan and coordinate the build of large-scale energy storage systems."

- From today "At our Motherwell site we will shortly create new opportunities across several functions ( supply, technical , production, mechanical and assembly".

Yes, Nevada commissioning should also happen this month according to the Cotec investor presentation.

Some progress state-side announced just now:

https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/hypromag-usa-and-intelligent-lifecycle-solutions-commission-inserma-rare-earth-ma-1147452

The extension was approved yesterday. SPAC moving forward. RNS tomorrow hopefully.

https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001827899/000121390026025708/ea0280671-8k_crown.htm

Not sure if posted already but CC will be at Bio-Europe on March in a discussion panel on the topic “Charting the current of innovation and opportunity in oncology”. Other speakers include the Merck VP Head of Oncology & Immuno-Oncology Business Development and an associate director from Ipsen working on Oncology external partnering.

https://informaconnect.com/bioeurope-spring/agenda/2/?searchInput=Avacta

Https://www.devex.com/news/devex-newswire-us-development-finance-corporation-pursues-dual-mandate-111885/amp

Interesting article about DFC strategy this year. Mentions that DFC:

- “will make fewer transactions each year, but bigger ones”

- “ is aiming to mobilize two to four times more private sector dollars than its own investment in each transaction”

- “ with a newfound ability to invest in wealthier countries, Coleman says DFC will be able to “connect the dots between the developing world and the high-income world.” - note this is referring to the DFC’s expanded mandate that now allow it to invest in high-income countries (of which Poland is one).

These three points make me wonder if the DFC might sort a public + private sector funding package for Songwe Hill and Pulawy combined - that would be quite something!

Alexander Lemon just reposted the LinkedIn announcement… RNS on Monday?

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dfcgov_dfc-board-approves-new-investments-bolstering-activity-7430676488246472704-u75P?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&rcm=ACoAAAzhrf0B9dsAiDy1Rqtez-z7KjWlS-Dd8nY

Are you referring to this? https://www.dfc.gov/media/press-releases/dfc-board-approves-new-investments-bolstering-regional-stability-economic

Says the approved transactions are confidential at this time, but seems very possible Songwe is amongst them.