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Doug Bright
Critical Resources has added a fresh layer to its battery technology ambitions after locking in a worldwide exclusive licence over battery cooling tech from Singaporeโs Nanyang Technological University, through the universityโs commercial arm NTUitive.
The deal gives Critical Resources rights to a portfolio covering two-phase cooling systems for lithium-ion batteries, graphics processing units (GPUs) and central processing units (CPUs) in high-density electronics and data centres.
In simple terms, the technology sprays a non-conductive fluid directly onto hot components, which evaporates on contact, pulling heat away fast before being condensed and reused in a closed-loop system.
The attraction for CRR is clear. As the company advances its own solid-state battery evaluation work, managing heat becomes increasingly important for performance, safety and battery life, particularly in hot operating environments.
โOur development approach remains capital-light and milestone-gated.โ
Critical Resources managing director Tim Wither
The NTU technology is designed to work at ambient temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius and aims to remove the need for energy-hungry refrigeration chillers.
That practical edge is backed by peer-reviewed test work cited by the company, which reported a 25.8 per cent reduction in total facility energy use, a power usage effectiveness figure of 1.08 compared with 1.69 for conventional air-cooled systems and a 7-degree reduction in chip-level temperature at full load.
The licensed package also includes model predictive control technology, which can adjust energy use in real time. CRR sees that as directly relevant to battery management, especially where operating temperatures need tight control to support repeatable results as prototype development progresses.
Critical Resources managing director Tim Wither said: โThe NTU portfolio connects to our existing solid-state battery development work in the US, where heat is a primary determinant of battery cycle life and safety. Our development approach remains capital-light and milestone-gated.โ
Under the terms of the deal, Critical has paid SGD$220,000 (A$260,000) excluding patent cost recoveries, and no royalties on product sales for a 10-year licence. The agreement also broadens the companyโs downstream strategy by linking its battery work to thermal solutions suited to data centres and other heat-intensive infrastructure.
For a junior better known for its resource exposure, the move adds a differentiated technology angle and another path to value creation.
If Critical can translate NTU science into commercial traction, it could give the company a handy foothold where batteries, cooling, and efficiency all intersect.
Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au
