Kurita Water Industries Signs Joint Research Agreement with Tokyo Fire Department for Lithium-Ion Battery-Compatible Fire Extinguishing Agents

Kurita Water Industries Ltd. (Head office: Nakano-ku, Tokyo; President: Hirohiko Ejiri; hereafter 'the Company' or 'Kurita') has been selected for the 'Development of Lithium-Ion Battery-Compatible Fire Extinguishing Agents and Equipment' (hereafter 'this joint research and development') under the Tokyo Fire Department's 'Tokyo Fire Department INNOVATION PROJECT'. The company signed the joint research and development agreement on May 21.

In recent years, the widespread use of mobile batteries, electric vehicles (EVs), and storage batteries has led to an increase in fires caused by lithium-ion batteries, creating a significant social issue. Lithium-ion battery fires are characterized by repeated re-ignition due to thermal runaway, and it has been noted that conventional powder and gas-based extinguishing agents struggle to provide sufficient cooling or suppression of re-ignition.

As part of its new business initiatives, Kurita has been developing a new fire extinguishing agent (hereafter 'the new agent') that applies its long-standing expertise in water treatment technology and is free from PFAS, phosphorus, and ammonia. The company applied for and was selected for this joint research and development project to accelerate the identification of issues, evaluation of effectiveness, and implementation of the new agent, aiming for early commercialization.

Under this joint research and development project, with the cooperation of the Tokyo Fire Department, Kurita will verify the effectiveness of the new agent against lithium-ion battery fires and conduct specific studies on its implementation into firefighting equipment. Through this research, the company aims to contribute to enhancing fire safety for citizens, public transport, and firefighting organizations. Furthermore, the company intends to expand applications to battery manufacturing plants and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), which are expected to grow significantly in the future.

Leveraging the knowledge related to 'water' cultivated since its founding, the Kurita Group continues to aim for contributions to the realization of a sustainable society through the creation of innovation, including solutions that provide 'new value' to customers and society, as well as new businesses that extend beyond the framework of water treatment.