The lead-acid battery (LAB) is the oldest rechargeable battery technology in widespread use today – yet it remains essential to global infrastructure. In 2024, the LAB market was valued at approximately USD 48.5 billion and is projected to reach USD 73.96 billion by 2032 (Fortune Business Insights). Despite its dominance, the technology is constrained by outdated materials and environmentally challenging practices.

This presentation introduces REGENERATE®, a patented hydrometallurgical process that upcycles end-of-life LAB paste into nanostructured leady oxides with superior electrochemical properties. The technology has been under development at Ever Resource Ltd, which originally spun out of the University of Cambridge, and is now part of the Regenerate Technology Group headquartered in the US.

Our breakthrough material has exhibited up to 40% higher energy density under certain conditions. The process which manufactures these unusual oxides has been shown to exhibit precise control over phase purity, surface area, and crystallinity – while simultaneously reducing the carbon footprint (in comparison to incinerating lead paste) by 85%, and cutting waste by more than 90%.

In this presentation, we report results from our battery testing programme, including electrochemical data from cell trials using REGENERATE oxides. We present scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images that illustrate the nanostructure of our oxides and compare them with conventional materials. We also explain the mechanistic and structural differences that underpin the superior performance of our product, offering insights into how this innovation can unlock new performance standards for our industry.