The Ukrainian startup SorbiForce, based in Arizona (USA), has developed a technology for using agricultural waste to produce eco-friendly batteries with a lifespan of up to 6,000 cycles. The startup is currently raising funds on the crowdfunding platform StartEngine, where it has been valued at $20 million.
SorbiForce claims that in creating the world's first truly sustainable battery, the developers used only agricultural waste, carbon, water, and salt. This was reported by Interesting Engineering.
The idea for this technology came from the CEO and co-founder of SorbiForce, Serhiy Kaminsky, when he realized that agriculture produces up to 2.1 billion tons of waste annually. Additionally, traditional methods of recycling regular batteries are limited and often dangerous, which highlights the importance of an eco-friendly solution.
"Modern energy storage systems and batteries have a very large impact on the planet's sustainability," says Kevin Drolet, the company’s Chief Operating Officer.
To create the innovative battery, Kaminsky assembled a team of experts in the late 2010s, which eventually secured a spot at the University of Arizona’s Innovation Center startup incubator.
"We really grabbed onto the idea that waste has value and that it can be turned into a capital enterprise," emphasizes Drolet.
After years of research, the team developed sorbent batteries that use three physical processes to transfer electrons through an ultra-porous carbon layer at the core, moving them from the cathode to the anode. According to the team, since both electrodes are made of carbon, the battery is completely non-flammable.
The battery’s lifespan can be up to 30 years if "more water is added," according to the startup. And after its service life, up to 95% of the battery’s components can decompose into organic materials, with the remaining parts being recyclable.
Drolet notes that, unlike lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, which often become toxic plastic waste or pose a safety threat during recycling, SorbiForce’s elements do not present a risk of explosion, heat leakage, or the release of toxic substances due to their "non-metallic chemistry" and closed-loop cycle, even if they are cut in half.
Currently, SorbiForce is raising funds on the crowdfunding platform StartEngine.
"We are completing our current round at $270,000 — the last step before making a big leap forward. Next: raising $5 million to launch production and open our first plant," commented Serhiy Kaminsky on the campaign. According to Drolet, with a lifespan of over 6,000 cycles and the ability to stack modules, the transition from pilot projects to full-scale production will not be delayed, as demand already exists. He added that the company plans to begin producing its first batteries later this year.
