As one of the largest challenges faced by our global society, global warming is placing pressure on governments, institutions, companies and individual citizens to fundamentally reconsider the use of fossil resources and their impact on the environment. The emission of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, from burning fossil fuels has been identified as the main reason for global warming. As a result, governments around the world have set ambitious goals to reduce CO2 emissions and to limit long-term global climate change. To reach to set goals it is necessary to convert to renewable energy sources. Although the renewable energy industry has increased in capacity tremendously in many parts of the world, it is limited by inefficient energy storage. Electrical energy can be stored in various ways but batteries remain the most advantageous due to their high efficiency and great flexibility. To this end, Lithium ion batteries (LIBs), are the systems of choice for most energy storage solutions, for example Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Battery Energy Storage Solutions (BESS), because of their high energy density and high power performance characteristics. However, LIBs face cost and performance issues like limited energy storage, long charging times, inadequate lifetimes and substantial weight.
The state of the art in all battery applications is to use voltammetry and global temperature measurements to determine the battery status. However, such measurements are inadequate, and cause uncertainty in the predicted state of charge and health of the battery, since they do not take into account local chemical changes inside the battery. Due to the uncertainty, manufacturers are forced to use oversized batteries, put restrictions on the charging rate, and perform service too early.
Using Insplorions NPS sensor technology, the battery charge and health can be monitored from inside the battery, which enables a much more accurate and reliable monitoring. The obtained information can be used to increase the performance and lifetime of batteries, which will contribute to more efficient battery systems and increase their competitive advantage compared to fossil based energy sources.
The focus of this project has been a feasibility study of market introduction of the NPS based battery sensor. The findings have validated and strengthened the need for the NPS battery sensor. The NPS technology can add great value over a wide area of applications, enabling more efficient, safer and longer lasting batteries. During the project Insplorion has also been successful in creating long term collaboration partners.
