Descrizione del progetto
Una nuova batteria al sale fuso potrebbe risolvere il problema relativo allo stoccaggio dell’energia rinnovabile
Il progetto SOLSTICE, finanziato dall’UE, intende sviluppare due batterie zinco-sodio al sale fuso in grado di operare a temperature elevate che potrebbero essere utilizzate per lo stoccaggio stazionario di energia. La prima batteria sfrutterà la tecnologia ZEBRA, un tipo di batteria ricaricabile al sale fuso basata su nichel, sodio e cloruro. Al posto del nichel, i ricercatori impiegheranno lo zinco, un minerale economico e abbondante, come elettrodo positivo. Nella seconda batteria interamente liquida, i ricercatori applicheranno la stessa chimica senza avvalersi però di un elettrolita di ceramica, riducendo così ulteriormente i costi della batteria. Entrambi i concetti di batteria verranno portati al livello 5 di maturità tecnologica.
Obiettivo
SOLSTICE answers the quest for stationary energy storage with two Na-Zn molten salt batteries, which operate at elevated temperature. The first concept benefits from the existing and successful ZEBRA® technology. Replacing their Ni-electrode by cheap and abundant Zn will only minimally affect other system parts thereby ensuring fast commercialisation. The second approach, an all-liquid cell, will apply the same chemistry, but does not require a ceramic electrolyte thus reducing cost further. Both battery concepts shall be brought to TRL5, and validated by four demonstrators, operating in a realistic environment at the end of the 4-year project. The demonstrators will be equipped with a self-learning battery management system and will be accompanied by upscaling, system integration and public acceptance studies. Na-Zn technology is exceptionally performant as it promises similar efficiency and depth of discharge as Li-ion cells, but extreme current densities. Featuring molten electrodes, Na-Zn cells actually work better when being cycled, as operation keeps them warm; several cycles per day and a lifetime exceeding 10,000 cycles can be legitimately expected. Na-Zn storage is perfectly sustainable: the raw materials, table salt and Zn, are abundant in the EU, cheap and not harmful. The environmental impact of Zn-mining and battery production is expected to be minimal. Finally, recycling is greatly simplified due to the large, molten electrodes. The most valuable element, Zn, can simply be recovered as pure metal and reused after dismantling the cells. Based on the existing knowledge on ZEBRA® battery production, the storage price of Na-Zn batteries is expected to approach 1 cent/kWh/cycle by 2030 - including balance-of-plant and recycling cost. Summing up, the Na-Zn technology is the cheapest molten-salt battery, is fully sustainable, fulfils all criteria of the call - and is even realistic to be commercialised by 2030.
Campo scientifico
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
Invito a presentare proposte
Vedi altri progetti per questo bandoBando secondario
H2020-LC-BAT-2020
Meccanismo di finanziamento
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinatore
01328 Dresden
Germania