MikroMasch Powerstore for renewables microgeneration: scaling up the next generation battery technology for residential and commercial energy storage systems

Project Information

POWERSTORE

Grant agreement ID: 766805

DOI

10.3030/766805

Project closed

EC signature date 1 August 2017

Start date 1 September 2017

End date 31 August 2019

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy

Total cost

€ 1 848 150,00

EU contribution

€ 1 293 705,00

Coordinated by

MIKROMASCH EESTI OU
Estonia

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - POWERSTORE (MikroMasch Powerstore for renewables microgeneration: scaling up the next generation battery technology for residential and commercial energy storage systems)

Reporting period: 2018-06-01 to 2019-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The objective of the POWERSTORE is to perform the final technology optimization and enter the market with a two-layered business model: 1) selling Powerstore ESS to end consumers, and 2) selling our coating material and the underlying technology to Li-ion manufacturers.

The specific objectives are:
· Scaling the coating material synthesis technology from 0,2 kg/hour to 10 kg/hour pilot scale
The system architecture as 4 basic pyrolysis reactors (burner; spray device and spray gas supply; precursor dosing system) was defined, calculated and designed. The system will have common pipe and filtering part.
The pilot prototype of one basic pyrolysis reactor with 2 kg/h productivity was made and tested for productivity parameters and for required powder parameters.
The final 10 kg/h system is in the part production at this moment. Complete system assembling and testing is planning in accordance with project schedule.

· Final optimisation of the precise coating precursor and additive chemistries
The risks to loose coating material technical parameters during reactor scaling (particle size, phase composition, purity) was mitigated by test process by the one basic pyrolysis reactor with 2 kg/h prototype. The process parameters and corresponding precursor and additive chemistries was adjusted to reach coating material requirements.
Final optimisation of 10 kg/h system will be made as a next step of the project.

· Piloting the technology in three ESS applications (home-user oriented residential Powerstore, semi-industrial renewable energy Powerstore and an industrial scale Powerstore) in collaboration with EnerTech
From Novmeber 2017 our ESS development team started direct work with potential customers to find right case to set up Powerstore ESS.
The Kuivajõe farm was visited several times in November and December of 2017 to estimate real customer problems and necessities. The complete review of Kuivajõe farm electricity system was made and offered ways to improve electrical and economical status of the farm by using Powerstore ESS. The requirements for semi-industrial renewable energy Powerstore was defined by this work.
The negotiations with Fortum Tartu AS was initiated in December 2017 to define real home-user oriented residential ESS and industrial scale ESS necessities and corresponding requirements for ESS.
The development of design and structure of three ESS systems was started based on these work results.

· Demonstrating Powerstore to 15-20 potential clients with different needs among the three Powerstore target segments and among Li-ion manufacturers
Mikromasch Eesti already started activities to promote and find targeted segments and clients for future commercial success. On the clear formulated concept we’re approaching potential customers, who might be users of ESS.
Together with Fortum Tartu AS we proposes and negotiating use of ESS for following subjects:

1. Compact “Green Energy” FC Welco football stadium, where solar panels are integrated on the tribune roof and due to different approach, systems from 120 kWh to 420 kWh can be used.
2. Charging station with solar panels for the EV taxi company -Elektritakso in Tartu.
3. UPS on the ESS base and also charging station for Tartu Airport (Tartu Lennujaam),where a solar panel generation is suggested.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The specific objectives of the project and their main achievements were:
· Scaling the coating material synthesis technology from 0,2 kg/h to 10 kg/h pilot scale
By the end of the project the status is as follows:
The pilot prototype of one basic pyrolysis reactor with 2 kg/h productivity was created and tested for productivity parameters and required powder parameters.
The target 10 kg/h system architecture of 4 basic pyrolysis reactors (burner; spray device and spray gas supply; precursor dosing system) was defined, calculated and designed.
The 4 basic pyrolysis reactors were produced and tested for process parameters deviation. The properties of materials samples made in each of reactors were compared to define technology tolerances.
The final 10 kg/h system was made and tested as a single reactor to provide required technology reproducibility.

· Final optimisation of the precise coating precursor and additive chemistries
By the end of the project the status is as follows:
The risks to lose coating material technical parameters during reactor scaling was mitigated by test process of the basic pyrolysis reactor with 2 kg/h prototype. The process parameters and corresponding precursor and additive chemicals were adjusted to reach coating material requirements.
Final material technology optimisation of the 10 kg/h system successfully made for final single reactor architecture.

· Piloting the technology in three ESS applications (home-user oriented residential Powerstore, semi-industrial renewable energy Powerstore and an industrial scale Powerstore) in collaboration with EnerTech
By the end of the project the status is as follows:
From November 2017 our ESS development team started negotiations with potential customers to find right case to set up Powerstore ESS.
The requirements for semi-industrial renewable energy were defined by this work.
The aim was to define the actual 1) home-user oriented residential ESS and 2) industrial scale ESS necessities and corresponding requirements.
The design and structure development of the three ESS systems was based on the results of piloting.

· Demonstrating Powerstore to 15-20 potential clients with different needs among the three Powerstore target segments and among Li-ion manufacturers
By the end of the project the status is as follows:
Mikromasch Eesti has started activities to promote and find targeted segments and clients for the future commercial success. On the clearly formulated concept, we are approaching potential customers and users of ESS.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The developed technologies for production general li-ion materials with low cost advantage and more wide abilities to develop and produce new anode and cathode materials for li-ion batteries open new possibilities to decrease cost of ESS solution and open new niches of green energy market. The key limits of green energy technology for mass consumable products is still cost of energy storage. The results of project give one more technology to reach required kWh cost to required value by market. Development and production cooperation with Korean partners open new business abilities to combine advantages and abilities of Asia producers (general world market li-ion batteries producers) and EU innovations.
Obtained knowledges in energy storage engineering during allows Mikromasch to compete with other integrators and be more legible with industrial cooperation partners.
Know-how in development of ESS components and parts allows Mikromasch to these knowledges in designing other battery solution for transport and others.

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