Abingdon-based Nexeon has won a prestigious Climate Week Award in the Best Technological Breakthrough category, for its lithium ion battery technology that uses silicon in place of carbon.
Finalists in 14 categories attended the Climate Week reception at Lancaster House, London on 12 March. The Climate Week Awards recognise the best of what Britain has to offer in combating climate change, including outstanding achievements by individuals, businesses and communities.
Judges included activist Bianca Jagger, the Bishop of London Richard Chartres, the Prince of Wales’ environmental advisor Tony Juniper and the government’s chief climate scientist, Sir Robert Watson.
Climate Week (12-18 March) is Britain’s biggest climate change campaign. In 2011 half a million people attended events. This year, over 2,300 events have already been registered across the country.
Nexeon was joint winner of the Best Technological Breakthrough category alongside the Department for International Development.
Nexeon has created a new type of silicon which is structured at the microscopic level like the spines of a hedgehog, and enables a battery to store more power. Most modern devices, such as mobile phones and laptops, use batteries which store electricity using carbon anodes. Silicon can store ten times as much energy as carbon but until now has been unsuitable for batteries because of physical degradation during battery charge and discharge. Nexeon’s material uses silicon anodes, based on research from Imperial College, London, that allow batteries to last longer and store more energy. This technology could be crucial in improving the performance of renewable energy from wind and solar sources, allowing more energy to be stored during peak generation periods for use later. It would also mean that anything using batteries, from laptops to electric cars, would run for longer on a single charge.
Dr Scott Brown, CEO of Nexeon said: “We are delighted to have won this important award. So many quality companies are working hard on environmental initiatives, and we are especially proud to have had our progress recognised.”
The Prime Minister, David Cameron said: “I am extremely pleased to support Britain’s second Climate Week. When I gave my backing to the first Climate Week in 2011, we did not know what the level of participation would be and whether there would be appetite for joint action to help prevent and adapt to climate change. The response was huge. Half a million people attended over 3,000 events, making it Britain’s biggest ever environmental occasion and the country’s largest climate change campaign. Climate Week 2012 is expected to have even more impact.
“Climate Week’s Headline Partner Tesco, and its Supporting Partners EDF Energy, H&M, Nissan and SodaStream can be proud of the campaign they have helped to create. They are also showing what is possible in business – positive steps that will help us to combat climate change while also creating new jobs, protecting our energy security and building sustainable future prosperity for our country.”
Climate Week’s founder Kevin Steele said: “Nexeon thoroughly deserves to be awarded this prestigious accolade. The ability to store larger amounts of energy in a stable battery will have significant implications for a whole range of technologies. Nexeon’s silicon anode will enable more effective use of renewable energy sources, and products from laptops to electric cars will run even longer on a single charge.”