Aeramine joins Mobilise 2026: from UK scrap copper to battery-grade foil
Aeramine has joined Mobilise 2026, the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK programme supporting early-stage businesses developing technology for cleaner transport. Following the cohort announcement on 10 August, APC put Aeramine in the spotlight in its LinkedIn post on 25 August.
Our focus is copper: taking material already in circulation and turning it into higher-purity feedstock for demanding applications. APC’s announcement identifies Aeramine’s work to turn used copper into high-quality material for electric-vehicle components. Since then, that work has taken a clear direction: ultra-thin, ultra-pure copper foil for battery anode current collectors.
Why foil for the anode matters
Every lithium-ion cell relies on a thin copper foil to carry current from the anode. The foil adds weight and volume but stores no energy, so the thinner it can be made, the more of each cell is available for active material. Thinner foil is also harder to produce reliably. It needs to stay strong, ductile and free of defects, and that depends heavily on the purity and consistency of the copper that goes into it.
That’s where our approach comes in. By developing a route from UK scrap to copper of the purity foil production demands, we aim to make recycled material a credible feedstock for one of the most exacting copper applications in the EV supply chain.
Giving UK scrap copper a new role
Copper is central to electrification, and battery manufacturing is one of its fastest-growing uses. Aeramine’s goal is to recover more value from UK scrap and help build a circular domestic supply of advanced copper materials, starting with foil for battery cells. The potential benefits include less waste, reduced demand for newly extracted raw materials and a more resilient UK battery supply chain.
APC’s spotlight also highlighted the wider potential of our approach across clean energy, quantum computing and fusion. Battery foil gives us a focused first application, while those markets remain part of the longer-term picture. In each case, developing the technology alongside a clear understanding of customer requirements is essential.
Support from technology to market
Mobilise combines grant support with expert business mentoring and opportunities to connect with industry and investors. Its 12-month programme is organised around Market Focus and Technology Validation, which suits where we are: validating foil quality against cell manufacturers’ specifications while sharpening our route to market.
For Aeramine, joining the cohort is an opportunity to connect our copper foil development with the battery makers, partners and expertise needed to move it forward.
Working on battery cells or current collectors?
We’d like to hear from cell developers, foil producers and anyone sourcing copper for battery applications. Contact us.
Read APC's Mobilise 2026 announcement, explore the Mobilise programme, or view APC's Aeramine spotlight on LinkedIn.
