Susquehanna Group Recognizes Dr. Stanley Whittingham

by Valdi Weiderpass, Chair, Susquehanna Group

At its virtual January 2023 meeting, the Susquehanna Group presented its “Lynda Spickard Environmental Award” to Dr. Stanley Whittingham, in recognition of his past and current development of lithium-ion batteries which help preserve a habitable climate. The meeting included a presentation by the honoree and is available for viewing here.

Dr. Whittingham was awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing the first rechargeable lithium metal battery. He created the first working version in December 1972, just three months after being hired by Exxon, and his lithium-ion battery system was patented in 1977. Next, he worked to commercialize those batteries for small devices and electric vehicles. This was in the same decade that Exxon scientists analyzed data and accurately predicted how much global warming would likely occur with continued use of fossil fuels. To date, he has published over 200 scientific papers and has 16 patents.

We are very fortunate that Dr. Whittingham chose in 1988 to teach at Binghamton University. He helped establish BU's Materials Science and Engineering Program. He continues to lead research on improving energy storage and in particular lithium-ion batteries. Continued progress in battery design will enable wider adoption of renewable energy and improve the range and affordability of electric vehicles. A spin-off of this research led to a new lithium-ion battery manufacturing enterprise, iM3NY, in Endicott NY.

Dr. Whittingham now spearheads New Energy New York (NENY) which recently received $113,000,000 in grants to accelerate innovation in battery technology. It could transform New York’s Southern Tier into a global hub of energy storage manufacturing. NENY is a coalition led by SUNY's BU, and the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium (NY-BEST). It will build a lithium-based battery development and manufacturing facility, the Battery-NY Center, which will provide testing, certification, and scale-up capacity for new products and companies. NENY will also develop an energy products supply chain, expand workforce training, and engage community organizations to ensure that related economic benefits are equitable, accessible, and shared across the region. NENY is forecast to have a $2 billion economic impact and create 8,000 jobs over ten years.

This Lynda Spickard award comes with huge, heartfelt appreciation. The stone plaque symbolizes our planet and where materials to make batteries come from. Its deep green symbolizes the life on Earth that his work is destined to protect. The flame shape symbolizes hope for a brighter future. The inscription: “Lynda Spickard Environmental Award, 2023, Recognizing Dr. Stanley Whittingham, Nobel Prize laureate, inspiring students to imagine and create, leading battery innovation, enabling the ‘electrical century’ to help save a habitable climate.”