News | Headlines ‘Quantum leap’ in battery technology


Germany Energy storage The Bonn-based start-up company High Performance Battery has achieved what is believed to be a significant breakthrough in battery and storage technology. A team led by prof. Dr Günther Hambitzer has developed the world’s first solid-state battery, with what are said to be outstanding properties, to series production readiness. Its advantages are mainly that no cobalt is required, it has a 10 times longer service life and its electrolyte is non-flammable. Applications range from stationary storage for home and industrial use to charging infrastructures and the mobility segment – such as the automotive industry. The data and properties measured so far show significantly better values and characteristics compared to the currently dominant lithium-ion batteries. For longevity –


conventional lithium-ion batteries have to be replaced after about 1250 charging cycles of hourly charging and discharging while the HPB battery can take at least 12500 charging cycles at a comparable load, and is still going strong. For safety – the HPB electrolyte is non- flammable and therefore safer than the inflammable liquid electrolytes of conventional lithium-ion batteries. In terms of sustainability, the HPB shows a 50 % better environmental balance compared to current lithium-ion technology.


For the automotive industry HPB offers a safe, robust and outstandingly conductive HPB solid-state electrolyte. In terms of conductivity, compared to the liquid electrolytes commonly used today, the HPB solid-state electrolyte has an enormously improved conductivity. The HPB shows higher conductivity at -40 °C than


conventional liquid electrolytes show at their optimum 60 °C. These properties have been confirmed by independent partners and research institutes in the temperature range from minus 40 °C to plus 60 °C. This ensures that sufficient power is available even at extreme temperatures, eliminating the need to preheat the batteries in winter.


With the global annual demand for storage, 180 GWh in 2018, expected to exceed 2000 GWh by 2030, the longevity and long service life provides a financially attractive approach compared to conventional lithium-ion technology.


HPB is in contact with a number of potential licensees. Interest is high – the company is holding intensive talks in Germany, Europe and India. And a gigafactory to cover the Swiss market is already being planned.


MAN collaboration on CO2 Europe Energy storage


MAN Energy Solutions and Energy Dome, a long-duration energy storage specialist based in Milan, have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding for a non- exclusive collaboration. Both companies are committed to exploring the potential of integrating their individual technologies and competencies to further optimise Energy Dome’s CO2


battery technology, a


pioneering long-duration energy storage system based on exploiting the latent energy of CO2


phase changes.


Matteo Falco, head of Industries, Region Europe at MAN Energy Solutions, commented: “Unfortunately, energy storage is lagging behind alternative energy production and preventing its widespread implementation. Various technologies with different capacities and characteristics


energy storage


must be utilised to bridge this gap.” Claudio Spadacini, CEO of Energy Dome, said: “Our CO2


battery is a concrete


solution that will change how sustainable, long-duration energy storage is adopted, making it more accessible and impactful for communities worldwide.” Energy Dome’s technology is based on a closed thermodynamic transformation of CO2


between its gaseous and liquid states.


When operating in charge mode, the CO2 is taken from an atmospheric gasholder,


the dome, and compressed via an inter- refrigerated compressor, driven by a motor. The heat generated from the compression is stored in a thermal energy storage system, while the CO2


is liquefied and stored under


pressure at ambient temperature with zero atmospheric emissions. This allows for high-density energy storage without


Offshore wind pipeline grows 32% Worldwide Wind power


A new report ‘EnergyPulse Insights’ published on 4 October by RenewableUK and compiled by its own analysts indicates that the total pipeline of floating offshore wind projects has grown significantly in the last 12 months in terms of capacity from 185 GW a year ago to 244 GW now – a 32% increase.


The number of projects has increased globally during that time from 230 to 285. The findings include projects at any stage – fully operational, under construction, approved, in the planning system awaiting a decision or at an early stage of development.


To date, 227 MW of floating wind capacity is


fully operational across 14 projects in 7 countries. Norway has the most with 94 MW across 3 projects, the UK is second with 80 MW (2 projects), Portugal has 25 MW (1 project) and China is fourth with 19 MW across 3 projects. Japan has 5 MW (2 projects), Spain 2.225 MW (2 projects) and France 2 MW (1 project). Globally, 46 MW are under construction (3 projects), 576 MW are consented or in the pre-construction phase (11 projects), 68 GW are in the planning system or have a lease agreement (80 projects), and 175 GW are in early development or applying for a lease (177 projects). Nearly two-thirds of floating wind capacity announced so far worldwide is being developed


8 | October 2023 | www.modernpowersystems.com


using extreme cryogenic temperatures. In discharge mode the CO2


is heated up,


evaporated and sent through an expander before flowing back to the dome. The expander drives a the generator, creating climate-neutral electricity for the grid. Energy Dome’s first commercial CO2


battery plant in Italy will use a MAN Energy Solutions 20 MW CO2


expander.


The turbomachinery will be shipped in summer 2024 for installation.


in European waters (160 GW), 14% of it in the UK – 35 GW, of which 29 GW is in Scottish waters. Outside Europe, projects are being developed mainly off the west coast of the USA, the southeast coast of Australia and South Korea. Although Italy has the largest project pipeline (40 071MW), nearly all its 47 projects are at an early stage of development, with only one (90 MW) submitted into the planning system so far. The report also shows that demand for floating foundations is expected to ramp up fast, with the potential for 472 in the UK by the end of 2032. There could be 1369 floating foundations in Europe and 1924 for projects globally by the end of 2032.


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