Affordable High-Performance Green Redox Flow Batteries

Project Information

HIGREEW

Grant agreement ID: 875613

DOI

10.3030/875613

Project closed

EC signature date 21 October 2019

Start date 1 November 2019

End date 31 May 2023

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy

Total cost

€ 3 786 747,50

EU contribution

€ 3 786 747,50

Coordinated by

CENTRO DE INVESTIGACION COOPERATIVA DE ENERGIAS ALTERNATIVAS FUNDACION, CIC ENERGIGUNE FUNDAZIOA
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 3 - HIGREEW (Affordable High-Performance Green Redox Flow Batteries)

Reporting period: 2022-03-01 to 2023-05-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The HIGREEW project has demonstrated how aqueous organic electrolyte-based redox flow battery can be an alternative for large-scale stationary energy storage applications, aligned with Europe’s main roadmaps towards climate neutrality by 2050.
The HIGREEW project addressed the challenges of developing a sustainable, low cost, and safe advanced redox flow battery technology. This have been demonstrated by the achievement of the following objectives:
1. To develop and optimise the aqueous organic electrolyte-membrane-electrode tandem and high energy density electrolyte have been studied and formulation proposed. The targeted key results specific to electrodes have been achieved with the identification of materials showing charge transfer kinetic >1x10-3 cm/s for the electrochemical conversion of HIGREEW electrolytes.
2. To design, build, test, and validate efficient Aqueous Organic Redox Flow Battery (AORFB) cells and stacks. All steps completed, tested and validated.
3. HIGREEW prototype engineering and validation in pilot facilities. Design has been completed according to operational and safety needs. Temperature control system has been added to the design consisting of heat exchangers, recirculating cooler, fans, and room air conditioning. Building and testing completed.
4. Demonstrate the use of Aqueous Organic Redox Flow Battery through the integration of renewable energy sources. The HIGREEW prototype has been successfully integrated and demonstrated in SGRE facilities in La Plana (Spain), validating the use of the prototype in the renewables plan.
5. Ensure the safety and sustainability of the HIGREEW technology: A Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) and a Structured What If Technique (SWIFT) studies have been done to understand the behaviour of the battery when it is operated outside its normal operating conditions and for the installation in the hybrid renewable plant (La Plana). Recommendations have been implemented at design stage and safety protocols defined for installation, operation, maintenance and dissemble of the battery. Information on the production and durability of materials has been collected.

HIGREEW project has proven that redox flow batteries can be a suitable alternative for stationary storage applications. Thanks to their ability to store large amounts of electrical energy for extended periods and release it quickly they can offer new solutions for renewables integration, aligned with European political drivers.
The EU has defined two cornerstones to achieve a sustainable economy, climate-neutral: The European Green Deal and the SET-Plan (European Strategic Energy Technology Plan).
On one hand, the Green Deal establishes that by 2030 the targets to achieve are:
• At least 40% cuts in greenhouse gas emissions (from 1990 levels)
• At least 32% share for renewable energy
• At least 32.5% improvement in energy efficiency
On the other hand, the SET-Plan defined that by 2030 stationary energy storage must reach 0.05€ /kW/h/cycle, 10.000 cycles, and 20 years of life.
Redox flow technology developed by HIGREEW project has successfully contributed to the deployment of the European Green Deal and SET Plan objectives.

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 work of this last period has been mostly focused on targeted objectives 4 and 5: demonstration and validation of the proposed solution including safety aspects.

Below a short summary of the results achieved – for the entire project duration - for all WPs:
WP1 (M1-4) Completed in RP1, all targeted objectives achieved: i) definition of specifications for the HIGREEW prototype; ii) Specification and requirements for material and components; iii) definition of testing protocols.

WP2 (M3-32) the planned work was mostly performed in RP1 and RP2, main objectives achieved: i) development of robust aqueous electrolyte (highly soluble and with long-term stability); ii) development of protocols for highly selective membranes; iii) modification of carbon-based electrode for enhanced kinetics; iv) testing and validation of lab-scale proposed solution.

WP3 (M11-M43) Detailed characterization and modelling tools have been applied in the definition of the cell and stack design for AORFB. A low-cost stack concept has been developed, constructed and validated.

WP4 (M6-M36) the engineering of the HIGREEW prototype has been successfully completed and demonstrated. This included (main aspects): i) Design and development of power conversion and grid connection hardware; ii) development of BMS and related algorithms; iii) development of BOP

WP5 (M35-M43) The HIGREEW prototype has been assembled and integrated at site in La Plana in Spain. Real-environment tests have been performed. Safety aspects and control testing have been developed and reported.

WP6 (M13-M43) The safety and environmental aspects of the developed prototype have been evaluated and reported.

WP7 (M1-43) Dissemination of project results via newsletters, project website, scientific presentation at conferences and publications. Clustering activities with other EU projects.
Special attention to communication and dissemination of project results have been done via: >10 (open access) publications, 2 PhD thesis, 2 targeted project workshops, >20 participation to conferences and events. All list available in the technical annex.
In terms of exploitation the different project results for each partner have been analysed and route to exploitation considered: possibility of patenting has been considered and training of students (CICe, CNRS, UAM), new systems/solutions proposed to clients (C-TECH, SGRE, GAMESA) new industrial collaboration started (PFES, UWB), follow up projects (Fraunhofer, All)

WP8 (M1-43) General project coordination.

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 HIGREEW approach and methodology brought the technology from TRL3 to TRL5, starting from the materials that mainly influence redox battery performance (electrolyte, membrane, electrode), till stack design and engineering.
The prototype has been tested at La Plana renewable plant (Spain) offering the first-of-its-kind solution.

In addition, HIGREEW covered a wider impact and implications:
- The contribution to developing technology leadership and economic growth at the European material suppliers, battery component suppliers and (sub)system integrators and OEMs like Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, S.A. leading to the creation of new business opportunities, technological advancements, and economic growth within the European battery industry. By working together, these stakeholders can contribute to the successful development and commercialization of the new redox flow battery technology, positioning Europe as a leader in this growing field.
- The transition towards a climate-neutral economy will create thousands of new jobs, stimulate development and generate wealth within the growing European economy. HIGREEW contributed to the definition of new chemistry and design for RFBs (both at components and system level); considering the uptake of the proposed solution, new professional expertise will be defined contributing (in a time range of 5 to 10 years) to increased job creation in the sector.
- The lowering of the EU dependence of oil and gas imports through the accelerated transition towards the renewable electric energy use

HIGREEW Container in LaPlana

Group Picture FInal Workshop