Lithium-ion batteries are the state of the art in stationary energy storage, but parts of the raw material extraction are controversial due to environmental and social problems. The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has therefore joined forces with partners in the INFAB project to research an alternative technology based on zinc-ion batteries. The project covered all process stages, from the development of cell chemistry and manufacturing processes to the battery management system.
The current challenges of research into stationary battery storage lie in the conflicting areas of safety, durability, investment costs and application-specific storage costs (Levelized Cost of Energy Storage, LCOS for short), the availability of raw materials and environmental and social compatibility throughout the entire product life cycle. “The INFAB research project is focusing on high-performance zinc-ion battery technology. It stands out due to the simplicity of the system structure combined with a high level of safety, non-toxic battery components and the possibility of environmentally and socially compatible raw material extraction within the EU. The technology also offers the potential for low costs per kilowatt hour,” explains project manager Harald Gentischer.
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