Periodic Reporting for period 1 - GRAPHEEN (Green and Straightforward process for the synthesis of Graphene based-nanomaterials for energy applications)
Período documentado: 2015-02-01 hasta 2015-07-31
Gnanomat S.L. has developed and patented a technology for the production graphene based composites, meaning graphene combined with other chemical species like metals, metal oxides and polymers, which offer enormous advantages over other competing technologies: it is a simple and inexpensive process, no chemical treatments are needed, no need for toxic or environmental harmful solvents/reagents and the most important feature is the huge versatility of the process for the production of a wide spectrum of different composite materials. Thanks to the unique features of our technology, it has the potential to become the gold-standard method for industrial production of graphene based materials, offering a solution to overcome the critical barrier in exploiting the potential of graphene. In the GRAPHEEN project we aim at scaling up our process as a way to demonstrate its actual viability as a cost effective method for industrial production of graphene based materials. Our final goal is to industrialize our process and to make it becoming the reference method for production of these materials at industrial scale. With this final goal in mind, during this Phase 1 project we have performed an in-depth evaluation of the feasibility of our business plan, covering its technical feasibility, its commercial feasibility and its financial feasibility.
TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY: From a technical point of view, the GRAPHEEN project aims at scaling up to a DEMO plant, our patented method for the production of graphene based composites. The objective for Phase 1 was to validate the viability of our method for the production of these materials at industrial scale, enabling an acceptable price for their possible implementation in energy storage systems. Furthermore, as our method allows the production of a wide range of graphene based composites with different compositions and because our major interest is the production of materials to be used in electrodes of Li-ion batteries and supercapacitors, in the GRAPHEEN project we plan to test and validate the performance of the developed materials in these applications in a real operational environment. Considering these two major technological goals hereafter, for the phase 1 project we have performed the following activities:
• Definition of the best material compositions to be optimized in the project, in collaboration with industrial partners in the energy storage field.
• Preliminary design of a demonstration plant for scaling up our production process for the production of 1 Kg/week of our graphene based materials.
• Elaboration of a work plan for the GRAPHEEN project, including a risk assessment.
COMMERCIAL FEASIBILITY: The Commercial feasibility study was planned for this Phase 1 of the GRAPHEEN project as a way to understand better the market we aim to enter, so to help us in the definition of an optimal commercialization strategy. The work performed during the action has been as:
• Performing an in-depth market research study of Global markets for Lithium Ion Batteries, supercapacitors and graphene-based materials: Key market factors, segmentation, value chain analysis and a complete analysis of competitors.
• Redefinition of our business model and elaboration of a commercialization plan: market entry strategy and timeline and resources required to reach go-to-market.
FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY: The financial feasibility study was planned for this Phase 1 as a way to carefully analyze the financing needs to bring the GRAPHEEN products and process to the market and to evaluate the profitability of GRAPHEEN project (Return Of Investment, R.O.I.). Therefore, the worm performed during phase 1 has been the following:
A) Calculation of the total financing needs for the GRAPHEEN project: investment need to reach the go to market stage.
B) Evaluation 3 different financial scenarios for the following 5 years of product commercialization (pessimistic, realistic and optimistic).