Flexible Generation

Flexible Generation

  • Sustainable manufacturing and optimized materials and interfaces for lithium metal batteries with digital quality control

    Project dates: 01. Sep 2022 - 31. Aug 2026

    Objective

    The SOLiD project will create a sustainable and cost-efficient pilot scale manufacturing process for a high energy density, safe and easily recyclable solid-state Li-metal battery. We will use roll-to-roll (R2R) dry extrusion coating for the blend of cathode active material, solid polymer electrolyte, and conducting additives. R2R slot die coated primers on the cathode current collector will enhance adhesion, performance and corrosion resistance of the cell. The polymer electrolyte layer will be R2R coated, using an optimal design for the slot die head. For the Li metal anode, we will utilize cost-efficient R2R pulsed laser deposition, which enables minimizing the Li thickness down to 5 µm. The Li metal production will be combined with an inline process for interfacial engineering to ensure compatibility with the other layers and stability. The process development will be supported by digitalization methods to go towards zero-defect and cost-efficient manufacturing.
    The proposed methods enable sustainable manufacturing of Gen. 4b solid state batteries with minimised amount of critical raw materials (Co and Li), and with superior performance and safety: The protective layers enable the use of NMC811, which reduces the amount of Co into minimum without compromising the lifetime, and PLD process helps to minimize the Li thickness. Dry coating eliminates the use of toxic solvents and energy-consuming drying steps, and the digital quality control will reduce the amount of waste. The thickness of each layer will be minimized to reach energy density above 900 Wh/l. Cost will be reduced by cost-effective production methods and by maximizing the yield. Safety and long cycle life are guaranteed by the solid electrolyte and the protective interlayers. Supported by the life-cycle thinking and stakeholder engagement, the SOLiD project will enable the design for a sustainable solid state battery factory of the future.

    Partners

    Number of partners: 15
    Site numbers:

    RTD TALOS LIMITED

    AVESTA BATTERY & ENERGY ENGINEERING

    CSEM CENTRE SUISSE D'ELECTRONIQUE ET DE MICROTECHNIQUE SA - RECHERCHE ET DEVELOPPEMENT

    CENTRO RICERCHE FIAT SCPA

    COATEMA COATING MACHINERY GMBH

    BERNER FACHHOCHSCHULE

    UNIVERZITA TOMASE BATI VE ZLINE

    AALTO KORKEAKOULUSAATIO SR

    PULSEDEON OY

    UNIVERSITE GRENOBLE ALPES

    ARMOR BATTERY FILMS

    SPECIFIC POLYMERS

    OCSIAL EUROPE SARL

    CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS

    Research & Innovation

    TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OY

    Key Exploitable Results

    • TRL

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  • Production Method Of Electrical Energy by Enhanced Thermal Electron Emission by the Use of Superior Semiconductors

    Project dates: 01. May 2013 - 30. Apr 2016

    Objective

    The project aims to develop, validate and implement a novel solid-state conversion mechanism able to transform concentrated solar radiation into electric energy, at very high efficiency, with a direct conversion obtained by an enhanced electron emission from advanced semiconductor structures. Its application is in high-flux concentrating solar systems, characterized by presently mature optical technology, reduced request for active components, high cost-effectiveness. The energy conversion exploits the high radiation flux, provided by solar concentrators, by combining an efficient thermionic emission to an enhanced photo-electron emission from a cathode structure, obtained by tailoring the physical properties of advanced semiconductors able to work at temperatures as high as 1000 °C. The high operating temperatures are also connected to the possibility to exploit the residual thermal energy into electric energy by thermo-mechanical conversion. ProME3ThE2US2 will develop a proof-of-concept converter working under vacuum conditions, composed of an absorber able to employ the solar infrared (IR) radiation to provide a temperature increase, a semiconductor cathode properly deposited on it, and a work-function-matched anode, separated from the cathode by an inter-electrode spacing. The concept novelty bases on (1) use of both bandgap and over-bandgap energy to generate electrical current; (2) additional use of sub-bandgap IR radiation, with a spectral energy not able to excite photo-emitters, for augmenting the thermionic emission from cathode, (3) engineered semiconductors, able to emit electrons at lower temperatures than standard refractory metals; (4) experimentation of a hetero-structured cathode for emission enhancement by an internal field; (5) recovery of exhaust heat from the anode by thermo-mechanical conversion. It is estimated that the proposed technology could achieve a conversion efficiency of 45% if used under high-flux irradiation conditions (~1000 suns).

    Partners

    Number of partners: 7
    Site numbers:

    SOLARIS PHOTONICS LTD

    ABENGOA RESEARCH SL

    FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.

    EXERGY LTD

    • Partner
    • EXERGY LTD
    • United Kingdom
    • Budget: 175, 216

    TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY

    TECHNION - ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

    Ionvac Process Srl

    Key Exploitable Results

    • TRL

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  • High Efficiency Distributed Power Plant

    Project dates: 01. Feb 2015 - 31. Jul 2015

    Objective

    The EU is committed to lower its C02 emissions 80-95% by 2050. Current energy technologies do not enable to reach this goal. Today, in conventional power generation, electrical efficiency is around 15-45%. Convion will commercialize a small power plant for distributed power generation that reaches electrical-efficiency up to 70% (and above 90% in CHP mode). Convion´s power plant is based on Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) technology that converts hydrocarbon and hydrogen fuels like biogas, natural gas, and hydrogen to heat and power without harmful emissions. Convion´s SOFC power plant enables to reduce greenhouse gases by more than 40-60% compared to conventional combustion process. In addition Convion´s innovation increases energy security for many EU regions and improves power stability for end-users like hospitals, data centres, production units and households. Convion is an established company at fuel cells market that combines more than 250 cumulative years of experience in SOFC systems development. Convion is dedicated to develop a state of the art exceeding SOFC stationary application in 50-300kW power range. Demand for high-efficiency power solutions is on the rise and fuel cells technology is seen as the backbone of the energy industry in the next decades. Market opportunity in Convion´s segment is estimated to reach over 1B € by 2020. H2020 SME-instrument is seen as a perfect match for Convion´s project objectives that could support the last product development phase and enable successful market introduction of the Convion SOFC power plant. In Phase-1 Convion will further develop company´s business model, customer strategy and marketing plan to take advantage of Convion´s strong position at distributed power generation market and achieve successful product commercialisation. Manufacturability study in Phase-1 is expected to lower the technology costs and make preparations for mass production.

    Partners

    Number of partners: 1
    Site numbers:

    CONVION OY

    • Project coordinator
    • CONVION OY
    • Finland
    • Budget: 50, 000

    Key Exploitable Results

    • TRL

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  • Offshore Wind Energy Cost Reduction by an Innovative Floating Met Mast Platform

    Project dates: 01. Dec 2017 - 31. Jul 2021

    Objective

    FloatMast is a floating platform that performs the best wind data measurements for the most promising and advanced Blue Energy activity, Offshore Wind Parks (OWPs). These wind measurements are vital for the cost benefit analysis of OWPs as they are used in the estimation of the annual income. Moreover, the wind measurements are also critical to the definition of the Operation and Maintenance costs as they are used in the design specification of the OWP’s turbines, towers and foundations. The wind measurements collected by FloatMast are according to the highest industry standard (IEC 61400-12-1) and provide the greatest net benefit to the Developers of OWPs. It can perform wind measurements at a 70% lower cost, by combining the best features from the two existing solutions: the meteorological mast and the Lidar remote sensor device on a stable floating platform. Furthermore, it is re-usable and provides the added value of being re-deployed in other locations of interest. It can be used at all stages of the life cycle of the OWP, from the design phase to the development and operational phase and until the decommissioning phase, twenty years later. Moreover, the platform can perform multi-purpose measurements as it can incorporate oceanographic instruments and environmental sensors, providing a fully integrated solution for a complete monitoring of the OWP site. The innovation has been developed by two Greek SMEs, it has been patented and certified, tested in a tank test at a 1:25 scale model, constructed at 1:1 physical scale, launched to the sea and conducted a series of tests with perfect compliance. The design and hydrodynamic behavior of the platform have been proven and the next stage involves enhancements and upgrades. Finally, the platform must undergo a demonstration phase in the operational environment in order to provide the needed verification of its operational capabilities and advance the already 2,3 m Euros investment to the commercialization phase.

    Partners

    Number of partners: 2
    Site numbers:

    STREAMLINED SYMVOULI MECHANIKI EPE

    ETME PEPPAS KAI SYNERGATES EE

    Key Exploitable Results

    • TRL

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  • HIghly advanced Probabilistic design and Enhanced Reliability methods for high-value, cost-efficient offshore WIND

    Project dates: 01. Dec 2020 - 31. May 2024

    Objective

    The core challenge addressed in this project is the advancement of the entire modelling chain spanning basic atmospheric physics to advanced engineering design in order to lower uncertainty and risk for large offshore wind farms. The five specific objectives of the HIPERWIND project are to: 1) improve the accuracy and spatial resolution of met-ocean models; 2) develop novel load assessment methods tailored to the dynamics of large offshore fixed bottom and floating wind turbines; 3) develop an efficient reliability computation framework; 4) develop and validate the modelling framework for degradation of offshore wind turbine components due to loads and environment; and 5) prioritize concrete, quantified measures that result in LCOE reduction of at least 9% and market value improvement of 1% for offshore wind energy. The requirements for advanced modelling and development of basic scientific solutions necessitates the strong involvement from academic partners (DTU, ETH, and UiB) and research organizations (IFPEN, DNVGL, and EPRI) and potential end users (EDF) to supply relevant operational data for model validation, provide access to cutting edge industrial environment and to open up exploitation pathways beyond TRL5 toward eventual commercialisation. HIPERWIND employs multi-scale atmospheric flow and ocean modelling, creating a seamless connection between models of phenomena on mesoscale level and those on wind farm level, with the aim of reducing uncertainty in load predictions, and broadening the range of scenarios for which adequate load predictions are possible. Improved modelling of environmental conditions, improved load predictions, better reliability assessment and lower uncertainty, cost efficient design and operating strategies, and lower O&M costs will yield a projected 9% decrease in the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) and 1% increase in the market value of offshore wind by the conclusion of the project.

    Partners

    Number of partners: 7
    Site numbers:

    ELECTRICITE DE FRANCE

    DNV AS

    • Partner
    • DNV AS
    • Norway
    • Budget: 357, 625

    EPRI EUROPE DAC

    EIDGENOESSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZUERICH

    DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET

    IFP Energies nouvelles

    UNIVERSITETET I BERGEN

    Key Exploitable Results

    • TRL

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  • Distributed Acoustic Sensing for Cable Monitoring and Surveying for Offshore Wind Farms providing movement, depth, surface disruption and free-span readings

    Project dates: 01. Aug 2016 - 31. Oct 2016

    Objective

    The Cable Sentry project will provide sensitive, real-time subsea high voltage (HV) cable monitoring to the offshore wind farm industry. By coupling the fibre optic cable to the HV cable faults can be easily identified and pre-located from acoustic signals. With 90 wind farms in development across Europe with 20000 km of subsea cabling by 2020, a daily offline cost to the energy companies of €300,000 and an increasing fault occurrence rate of up to 5-8 faults per 1000 km per year in early wind farm lifetime Cable Sentry has great potential. Our prototype has been proven to provide a 50-60% time and cost saving on fault ID and location when trialled. In addition, our system does not require seabed installation and can cover cables up to 120 km in length meeting the trend for the increasing distance to shore. Cable Sentry provides value added functionality as it is able to locate and measure free-span, indicate burial depth and wave height useful for cable surveying and condition monitoring. We are seeking funding for formation of a detailed business plan to demonstrate our comprehensive strategy to move our product from TRL6 to TRL8 within a Phase 2 project. We will develop a strong sales and marketing plan that will allow us to meet the growth increase anticipated due to our holding sole European distribution rights for Cable Sentry. Phase 2 work will include large-scale pilot trials for data collection and analysis to tune our algorithms to cover all potential fault types and cable positioning possibilities. Cable Sentry will enable Electricity Distribution Services Ltd (EDS) to achieve our vision to become the leading HV asset management company for offshore wind farms in Europe. We are looking to provide real time cable fault location and maintenance, asset surveying and HV support throughout plant lifetime. The Cable Sentry project is forecast to generate €35 million for EDS in the 5-years post commercialisation with an ROI of 7:1.

    Partners

    Number of partners: 1
    Site numbers:

    ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION SERVICES LIMITED

    Key Exploitable Results

    • TRL

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  • Integrated solar heating and cooling unit based on a novel zeolite chiller and heat pump

    Project dates: 01. Jun 2017 - 29. Feb 2020

    Objective

    The overall objective of this project is to develop a new advanced solar cooling and heating product, using advanced heat exchanger technology and integrating a heat pump for covering peak demand. This new product is based on the further improvement and integration of the products already commercialized by Fahren and Akotec. It uses synergies between the technologies of thermal chillers (heat to cooling technology) and heat pump (electricity to cooling technology) and combines know-how on design and manufacturing of adsorption chillers and solar thermal collectors in Germany, with the know-how in heat pump and dry cooling systems of CNR and NTUA. The main innovation of the project is the adsorption chiller unit based on Fahren’s patented zeolite coating technology, reducing the unit’s volume and cost by about two times. This new product is expected to become cost-effective and with high flexibility for providing both cooling (during summer) and heating (during winter) from the same compact product, being more competitive than existing mainstream solution, reducing energy costs of the end-users and leading to short ROI. The main target market is the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) market, with the ambition to become front-runners and provide the first cost-effective product, with low maintenance requirements. The target cost is to reach just 2000 €/kW (with solar field and cooling, heating and thermal storage included) and secure a short return on investment. The new product will be commercialized by a new joint venture established between Fahren and Akotec with Diadikasia being a strategic partner for promotion and sales in south Europe. The initial target markets are in Greece, Italy and Germany, while further expansion steps will follow once sales increase.

    Partners

    Number of partners: 5
    Site numbers:

    AKOTEC PRODUKTIONSGESELLSCHAFT MBH

    DIADIKASIA BUSINESS CONSULTING SYMVOULOI EPICHEIRISEON AE

    NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS - NTUA

    CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE

    FAHRENHEIT GMBH

    Key Exploitable Results

    • TRL

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  • Prefabrication, Recyclability and Modularity for cost reductions in Smart BIPV systems

    Project dates: 01. Oct 2018 - 31. Mar 2022

    Objective

    The building integrated photovoltaics sector can benefit from innovations in construction and solar energy alike, even moreso when the two are in sync. In the PVadapt project, combined innovations in modular construction and modular photovoltaics will lead to the creation of an adaptable and multifunctional BIPV system of substantially lower cost than conventional solutions. A flexible and low cost production of photovoltaics in automated processes will be employed to produce PV modules as well as elements with integrated heat pipe based heat recovery. These active energy components will be combined with passive and sustainable components with structural, mechanical, thermal and other functions to produce prefabricated BIPV modules. Prefabrication will be the key to achieving cost reductions, as well as guaranteeing quick installation with low disruption. The project will also employ a sustainable by design philosophy with all the parts of the system being recyclable/ reusable and waste based raw material supply chains will be established. A Smart Envelope System featuring grid connectivity, load prediction and shifting and intelligent energy management systems with predictive algorithms will be integrated in the PVadapt turn key BIPV system. To convincingly demonstrate the PVadapt solutions, 7 buildings of various typologies (residential, commercial, 2 offices, and 3 service stations in Spain, Greece and Austria) will have the technology installed and one new 288m2 floor space construction will be built in Portugal with a total of 464kW installed. The LCOE values will be below 2ct/kWh and the cost of the BIPV module will be below 200 euros per m2 and payback below 10 years. In these sites, the PVadapt technologies will be installed in flat and pitched roofs, as wall replacements and facades and shaders, demonstrating the holistic approach to BIPVs, improving their entire life cycle.

    Partners

    Number of partners: 18
    Site numbers:

    FLINT ENGINEERING LTD

    MERIT CONSULTING HOUSE

    ALCHEMIA-NOVA GMBH

    UNISMART - FONDAZIONE UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PADOVA

    KREAN S.COOP.

    NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS - NTUA

    CORE INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY OE

    COOL HAVEN - HABITACOES MODULARES E ECO-SUSTENTAVEIS SA

    SINTEF AS

    ARCHITEKTURBURO REINBERG ZT GMBH

    ANONYMOS ETAIREIA KATASKEVON-TECHNIKON ERGON, EMPORIKON, VIOMICHANIKONKAI NAUTILIAKON EPICHEIRISEON KON'KAT

    APOLLON SOLAR

    FACHHOCHSCHULE BURGENLAND GMBH

    EMTECH GMBH

    ETAIREIA YDREYSEOS KAI APOCHETEFSEOS PROTEYOYSIS ANONIMI ETAIREIA

    BRUNEL UNIVERSITY LONDON

    VIVIENDAS MUNICIPALES DE BILBAO ORGANISMO AUTONOMO LOCAL

    UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK - NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, CORK

    Key Exploitable Results

    • TRL

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  • A Photovoltaic Plant with thermal co-generation

    Project dates: 01. Feb 2019 - 31. Jul 2019

    Objective

    The main idea behind SPIRE project is simple: the typical mirrors of CSP-Tower plants are substituted by PV panels with an integrated optical filter that spectrally splits the solar radiation. The filter lets the radiation used efficiently by PV panel go through (mainly visible light) while reflects 40% of the energy (mainly blue light and infrared). SPIRE has no loses compared to a 1 axis PV Plant, and converts into thermal energy (using a Tower-CSP-TES system) the heat that today overheats PV cells. The thermal energy generated can then be used for several applications. Main and most immediate is the use of thermal energy storage (TES) as reliable and cost effective alternative to batteries for PV Plants. But many other uses of this smart combination of electricity and heat can be addressed: desalination, industrial process heat, agriculture, city heating/cooling, etc. SPIRE is completely zero CO2 emissions, suitable for off-grid solutions, no need of fuel supply, scalable and adaptable to some other technologies. SPIRE customized filter designs can be adapted to every location, particular light spectrum and dedicated applications and operation modes. Moving to performance and economical parameters, SPIRE beats all: better utilization of solar spectrum which leads to higher plan efficiencies, better operational performance of the solar field (no dumped energy due to overloading of TES+turbine capacity, utilization of diffuse radiation increasing the solar resource), less land footprint per installed power, more competitive prices than PV + batteries, bankable solution for 25-30 years of expected lifetime of the power plant , no degradation as silver mirrors (filters are made of inorganic oxides), less attenuation than current CSP towers, scalable with no need of billionaire investments to get good solar dispatchable energy prices, economic-quick start turbine that allows quick response to power shortage due to clouds, etc.

    Partners

    Number of partners: 1
    Site numbers:

    CAPSUN TECHNOLOGIES SL

    Key Exploitable Results

    • TRL

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  • Enabling Hydrogen-enriched burner technology for gas turbines through advanced measurement and simulation

    Project dates: 01. Jun 2016 - 31. May 2022

    Objective

    A major impediment to the economic viability of carbon-free renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power is an inability to effectively utilize the power they generate if it is not immediately needed. One option to address this is to use excess generator capacity during off-peak demand periods to produce hydrogen (H2), a high energy-content, carbon-free fuel that can be mixed with natural gas and distributed to end-users via existing natural gas pipeline infrastructure, where its energy content is recovered via combustion in conventional gas-turbine (GT) power plants. H2-enrichment, however, dramatically alters the combustion dynamics of natural-gas and its effect on turbulent flame dynamics, combustion stability and pollutant formation in GT combustors is not well enough understood today for this scenario to be safely implemented with existing power plants. The objective of this study is to facilitate Europe’s transition to a reliable and cost-effective energy system based on carbon-free renewable power generation. It will accomplish this by developing advanced laser measurement techniques for use in high-pressure combustion test facilities and using them to acquire the data necessary to develop robust predictive analysis tools for hydrogen-enriched natural gas combustor technology. This data will analyzed in close collaboration with the simulation and modelling teams and used to rigorously test and validate combustion models and predictive analysis tools currently under development.

    Partners

    Number of partners: 1
    Site numbers:

    DEUTSCHES ZENTRUM FUR LUFT - UND RAUMFAHRT EV

    Key Exploitable Results

    • TRL

    • Effective use:
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The EIRIE platform has been developed under the PANTERA project which has received funding from the European Union´s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under GA No : 824389

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