REPT Battero and Hyosung Heavy Industries Ink MOU for BESS Cooperation

[SMM Daily Review: Spot Lithium Carbonate Prices Fluctuate Upward on March 2] SMM's battery-grade lithium carbonate index price edged up compared to the previous working day. In terms of futures movement, the most-traded contract opened and surged to a high of 179,500 yuan/mt before fluctuating and pulling back, breaking below the 170,000 yuan/mt level, and then gradually stabilized and rebounded to consolidate around 172,000 yuan/mt. In the afternoon, prices edged up again, mainly fluctuating around 173,500 yuan/mt until the close. The open interest of the most-traded contract decreased by about 3,200 lots compared to the previous trading day. In terms of actual transactions, upstream lithium chemical plants maintained relatively firm quotes, with a weak willingness to sell spot orders. When futures prices dropped to 170,000 yuan/mt, some downstream material plants showed a slight recovery in purchase willingness, but most participants remained cautious, primarily adopting a wait-and-see approach. Overall, there were signs of a slight recovery in market inquiries and transactions.

South Korea's Solivis focuses on sulphide solid electrolytes. The core product has an ionic conductivity as high as 12 mS/cm, surpassing the level of liquid electrolytes. The world's largest mass production plant for sulphide electrolytes was completed in November 2025, with plans to expand capacity to 400 mt by 2027. It has already supplied to leading battery and automaker companies in South Korea and Japan, aiming to become the world's top solid electrolyte provider by 2030.

Against this backdrop, the value of energy storage and grid infrastructure becomes particularly prominent. If conflict persists, the core objective of energy systems will shift from cost optimization to systemic resilience. Distributed energy, microgrids, and storage possess an insurance-like function; their value becomes more visible under extreme conditions. Even if elevated raw material prices increase project costs, higher policy priority may provide long-term support.