Fraunhofer Energy Alliance
Fraunhofer Energy Alliance

Energy Storage

ELECTROCHEMICAL ENERGY STORAGE

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Electrochemical Energy Storage

Against the background of an increasing interconnection of different fields, the conversion of electrical energy into chemical energy plays an important role. One of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft’s research priorities in the business unit ENERGY STORAGE is therefore in the field of electrochemical energy storage, for example for stationary applications or electromobility.

By 2030, battery production will expand fifteenfold from today's 38 gigawatt hours per year to 576 gigawatt hours in Europe alone, according to a study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI. Against the backdrop of such immense growth forecasts, the aspect of sustainability and circular economy becomes just as important as technological innovation and functionality.

Our offering extends along the entire value chain from the development of battery technologies (Li-Ion: solid state, LiS, LiO2, Na-ion, redox flow), materials and components, cell design, process and manufacturing  engineering, and system development and integration.

Competencies of the Fraunhofer Energy Alliance in the Field of Electrochemical Energy Storage

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Battery Technologies (Li-ion: Solid state, LiS, LiO2, Na-ions, Redox Flow (RFB))

Against the backdrop of the energy transition, high-performance batteries have advanced to become key components of mobile and stationary electrically powered applications. In the technical implementation of novel stationary battery concepts, cost reduction, efficiency, durability and cycle stability as well as operational safety are the most important features. For electromobile applications, battery concepts are evaluated on the basis of their compactness and energy density as well as their cost and operational reliability. For both use cases, experts of Fraunhofer Energy Research advise customers and develop custom-fit solutions. Just as important as technical functionality is the sustainability of technologies and processes, for example in the development of sodium batteries or redox flow batteries from locally available, non-strategic base materials or through efficient manufacturing processes for lithium batteries or redox flow batteries. At the end of the product life cycle, we also focus on economic and ecological optimization in the form of recycling best practices.

Projects

 

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“DigiBattPro 4.0 - BW” - Digitized Battery Production 4.0

The aim of the DigiBattPro 4.0 - BW project is to completely digitize a battery cell production facility.

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FEST BATT - 21+1 Projects

The sub-project focuses on the production and processing of the phosphate solid electrolyte LATP (Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3). 

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ELuStat

A new type of iron-air battery is being developed as part of the project. It will have an energy density of 250 Wh/kg, an efficiency of at least 60 percent and be capable of 500 full charge/discharge cycles. 

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VAFLOW®

Efficient energy storage systems require economically strategic raw materials. The aim of the »VAFLOW« joint project is to pyro- and hydrometallurgically process industrial vanadium-containing residues and by-products to make a quality-assured vanadium electrolyte.

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KOBIBATT

The main objective of the »KOBIBATT« isroject is to develop a battery system with higher energy density and greater safety at lower costs. In battery research, these goals have so far been seen as contradictory and incompatible. 

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Material and Component Development

Development, analysis and optimization of material components form the basis for the energy storage systems of the future. For stationary applications, the experts focus on criteria such as durability, high cycle stability, low costs and high safety. For tomorrow's electromobility, on the other hand, storage devices with high energy and power density - i.e. shorter charging times - at lower costs and greater safety are crucial. For our customers we optimize components and materials, their combinations for redox flow batteries and high temperature batteries as well as for lithium sulfur cells, and solid-state batteries. In addition, we offer material tests in standardized systems, on the basis of which physical parameters can be recorded and compared with the current state of storage technology.

Projects

 

© Fraunhofer ISE/Dirk Mahler

NESSI

Novel Si Anodes for Solid-State Lithium-Ion Batteries

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SONAR

Modelling for the search for new active materials for redox flow batteries

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A world’s first: Largest existing NaNiCl2 cells in cerenergy®-battery module

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Cell Design

The cell design or format (pouch cell, prismatic or cylindrical cell) play an essential role in cell production and system development as well as integration. Several relevant aspects are associated with the selection of the cell design, depending on the application. For this reason, requirement with regard to cell design must be evaluated on a case-specific and systematic basis. Experts at Fraunhofer Energy Research are therefore concerned with the consideration and design of the cell design with regard to its use in battery modules and systems, taking into account the systemic interdependence of the individual decision criteria in terms of energy density, safety and costs.

Projects

 

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ASTRABAT

For the growing market of electric mobility, Europe must develop its own innovative battery concepts and production chains in order to increase its international competitiveness. This is the goal with which ASTRABAT is now launching. 

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Printsolid

The goal is to develop an inherently safe and environmentally friendly “all-solid-state” lithium battery, characterized by a very high energy density that exceeds the capabilities of the current generation of batteries.

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Process and Production Engineering

A wide variety of methods and processes are available along the entire battery value chain, which our experts research, develop and optimize. Our offering covers the entire value chain from material synthesis and modification to electrode production including the development of coating processes and sustainable and innovative cell production. Especially for the transfer of results obtained in the laboratory to industrial scale, the institutes of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft operate pilot plants in which the partial steps of the production of electrochemical cells can be implemented in a scalable manner. In this way, knowledge gained can be quickly transferred to small series production and the process know-how made available to customers.

Projects

 

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EPRox4

Cost-optimised and industrialised production of redox flow batteries. Within the publicly funded project, redox flow battery stacks are researched and further developed.

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OptiEx

Optimized Manufacturing Processes for High-Load Electrodes based on Extrusion Processes

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SIMBA

Development of a Battery Management System (BMS) for Sodium-Ion Batteries

 

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System Development and Integration

For our customers, we develop customized battery modules and systems for a wide variety of applications from individual cells of the most diverse technologies. Our portfolio ranges from the design of the thermal management (cooling system) and the safety concept to interconnection technologies, the development of battery management systems (BMS) and the associated algorithms for charging and ageing determination, and optimized charging and operation management strategies. The interfaces are designed accordingly so that system integration on both the performance and communications sides is possible.

Projects

 

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Project "RedoxWind"

In the framework of the RedoxWind project, a large-scale redox-flow battery storage device will be developed and connected directly to the intermediate DC circuit of a wind turbine.

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BattLife

With "BattLife", the initial project of the newly founded Battery Innovation and Technology Center BITC at Erfurter Kreuz has been launched. 

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hyPowerRange

As part of the "hyPowerRange" project funded by the BMWi, a new type of battery concept is being developed and tested that enables a cost-effective modular and flexible design of the power and capacity of electric vehicle batteries.

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