LOLABAT
Long lasting Nickel-Zinc battery system with high performances, low cost and limited environmental impact
| Business | Period | Project Coordinator | Funding Scheme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | January 2021-March 2021 | CY CERGY PARIS UNIVERSITE | H2020 |
Challenge
The transition to renewable energy sources (RES) is a critical step to slow down the climate change, to overcome the energy crisis and to ensure greater energy independence between different regions of the world. As use of RES increases, there is a commensurate need to address their limitations: output variability, temporal mismatch between generation and demand and undesirable effects on the electrical grid. Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are currently seen as important technological enablers for increasing the absorption of RES into the electric grid.
Although electric batteries have recently achieved notable improvements in terms of their technical performance and economic affordability, for their successful mass introduction in the stationary applications, further improvements in cost competitiveness and sustainability should be achieved.
LOLABAT has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 963576 to develop a new promising battery chemistry.
In particular, LOLABAT will develop a RNZB (Rechargeable NiZn Battery) with high performances and high energy efficiency, low cost due to abundant and available raw materials, non-toxic elements, high safety, limited environmental impact and high recycling potential.
The aim is to increase the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) by testing and demonstrating it in stationary energy storage applications via six use cases in utility grid and industrial sites, to perform life cycle and life cycle cost analyses, recycling studies, assessment of norms, standards and grid compliancy, realisation of business model and market studies.
Our Approach
In the framework of LOLABAT, RINA is mainly involved in the regulatory and standards assessment for the next generation of stationary batteries to define guidelines towards a future marketability of the technology.
In addition, different batteries stationary applications will be analysed to investigate the compliancy and integrability of the NiZn technology with the different requirements and installation strategies.
Moreover, we will perform a feasibility study for LOLABAT concept integration in the electro-intensive industry of KME copper production plant, one of the partners and use cases of the project consortium. To evaluate the potential of the future integration of LOLABAT battery in KME manufacturing process, an in-depth analysis of the best strategies for the battery application, the main benefits and the possible criticalities will be addressed.
Conclusion
In conclusion, LOLABAT aims to adapt the battery to different stationary applications and to achieve at least 4,000 cycles at 80% PdD, at a cost of 0.05 € / kWh / cycle. The participants' work will focus on:
- Changes in chemical formulations (electrodes, electrolyte, separators) and optimization of electrode manufacturing processes
- Increase of accumulator capacities, from 10 to 100Ah, and evolution of their configuration
- Study and implementation of a Battery Management System (BMS) adapted to the system and its applications
- Study of recycling processes at the end of life, analysis of the life cycle and the cost of the life cycle; market study and business plan in view of the preparation for industrialization in Europe
- Creation of NiZn prototypes from 2.5 to 10 kWh, tested by users for different types of stationary applications.
