A European consortium launches a new research project to conceive an innovative and low-cost energy storage technology with improved performance, safety, and reliability.
Barcelona, September 3rd, 2015
A European research consortium has decided to invest in a highly innovative project to develop aluminium-ion batteries. The project, called “High specific energy aluminium-ion rechargeable decentralized electricity generation sources“, or ALION for short, aims to develop a rechargeable battery at lower cost and higher energy efficiency than lithium-ion batteries.
Rechargeable batteries are the most commonly used energy storage solutions, and many technologies in this field have emerged recently. However, very few research projects have focused on aluminium-ion (Al-ion) batteries so far, as the technology is still in its early stages. In particular, ALION is the first European project to tackle this technology, as only a few scientific articles and patents have been published in the USA and China.
The expected results are promising: the ALION technology aims to double the power or halve the weight of a standard lithium-ion battery, thanks to the three electron transfers during the electrochemical charge/discharge reactions. Another advantage of using aluminium is that it is a much cheaper and more abundant material than lithium.
“The project covers the whole value chain from materials and component manufacturers, battery assemblers, to the technology validation in specific electric microgrid systems including renewable energy sources,” says Ahmad Bilal, coordinator of the project at Leitat Technological Center.
The battery is designed for energy storage applications within a grid with a stationary battery for renewable energies. But one could imagine other applications such as transport, as the charging time can be reduced significantly under specific circumstances.
Background
The ALION project involves over a 4-year period recognized organizations from all over Europe: Leitat Technological Center (Spain), Torrecid (Spain), Varta (Germany), Albufera Energy Storage (Spain), Dechema Forschungsinstitut (Germany), University of Southampton (United Kingdom), Technische Universität Berlin (Germany), Solvionic (France), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norway), Accurec (Germany), Acciona (Spain), CEG Elettronica (Italy), and CEA (France).
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 646286.
Press contact
Ahmad Bilal
+34 93 788 23 00
Disclaimer
This publication reflects only the author’s views and that the European Union is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.
