[SMM Nickel Market Flash] EnerVenue Starts 250 MWh Nickel-Hydrogen Battery Production in China

India, Malaysia and Thailand are not included in the European Commission’s draft authorization list for receiving certain ferrous and non-ferrous metal scrap from the EU. Under the revised EU Waste Shipment Regulation, exports of non-hazardous waste to non-OECD countries will generally be prohibited from May 21, 2027 unless the destination country has requested authorization and demonstrated environmentally sound waste management. The Commission opened consultation on the draft on September 18 and plans to adopt the first final list by the end of 2026.

Tesla is expanding US-based battery and critical-material production, with Cybercab now using nickel cathode material produced at Gigafactory Texas. Tesla has also been ramping domestic lithium refining, cathode materials and LFP production during 2026. The move reflects a broader effort to increase local sourcing of key vehicle materials as US trade policies tighten.

EnerVenue is positioning its nickel-hydrogen technology to compete in the rapidly growing energy-storage market, where lithium iron phosphate batteries are widely used. The company sees advantages in cycle life, safety and performance under harsh operating conditions. As global storage demand expands, commercialization of non-lithium technologies is accelerating, bringing greater attention to nickel-based energy-storage systems.