Battery technology company Integrals Power has been selected to manufacture and supply hundreds of kilograms of its patented manganese-rich Lithium Manganese Iron Phosphate (LMFP) cathode active material for a new UK government-funded programme aimed at developing next-generation batteries for the defence and automotive sectors.
The 30-month, £2 million project, led by battery systems specialist Denchi, will develop advanced battery cells designed to deliver a balance of high energy density, safety, durability and cost efficiency. The programme will produce hundreds of demonstrator pouch and cylindrical battery cells, including 21700 and 4695 formats, using Integrals Power’s LMFP cathode material.
The initiative is supported through the Battery Innovation Programme, delivered by Innovate UK with backing from the Department for Business and Trade as part of the UK government’s Industrial Strategy to strengthen the country’s battery manufacturing capabilities.
Battery cells will be manufactured on the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre’s (UKBIC) Flexible Pilot Line in Coventry before being assembled into battery packs at Denchi’s facility in Thurso, Scotland. The first validation trials will retrofit Denchi’s military-grade BB-2590 battery packs by replacing existing Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) cells with LMFP cells for defence applications, including military communications equipment, unmanned platforms and backup power systems.
Integrals Power said its LMFP technology offers up to 20% higher energy density than conventional Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries while eliminating the need for critical minerals such as cobalt and nickel. The company added that the material can be produced using raw materials sourced from Europe and North America, helping strengthen supply chain resilience.
Behnam Hormozi, Founder and CEO of Integrals Power, said the project demonstrates growing recognition of LMFP as a battery chemistry capable of improving performance while reducing costs and dependence on critical minerals. He noted that the technology is well suited to the evolving requirements of both defence and automotive applications.
Denchi CEO Andrew Cowie said the programme will showcase the UK’s ability to develop an end-to-end domestic battery supply chain for defence applications. He added that the company expects to manufacture the first LMFP battery packs and begin field validation trials as electrification becomes increasingly important across the defence sector.
The partners said the project also aims to reduce reliance on China’s battery supply chain, which currently dominates global LFP battery manufacturing. By developing an integrated domestic ecosystem for LMFP battery production, the programme seeks to strengthen the UK’s long-term competitiveness in both defence and automotive battery technologies.
