Page 42 - European Energy Innovation - autumn 2018 publication

42 Autumn 2018 European Energy Innovation

BATTERY INNOVATION

European regions innovating
on sustainable battery solutions

By Professor Ulrich S. Schubert (CEEC Jena), Jan Post (AquaBattery) and Pirita Lindholm (ERRIN)

EUROPEAN REGIONS CAN CREATE dependency, pollution, and social examples also show is that Europe
“OUT OF THE BOX” INNOVATIONS challenges. can take a leading role in sustainable
IN ENERGY STORAGE energy storage innovations – if we
Clean energy transition, with European regions have a significant move fast – and tap into the great
increasing use of renewable role to play in developing innovative economic growth potential of the
energy and electrification of the solutions, creating new value sector.
energy system, has placed energy chains, and opening up markets for
storage as a key challenge for the sustainable energy storage solutions. POLYMER REDOX-FLOW BATTERIES
coming years. Traditional storage This article introduces two innovative, BY CENTER FOR ENERGY AND
and battery technologies are sustainable, and stationary energy ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY
developing fast. However, there are storage technologies from two (CEEC) JENA
many environmental, social, and European regions, Thuringia (DE) and Current battery technologies are
economic reasons for adopting new Friesland (NL). Their battery solutions often based on inorganic active
and alternative technologies to the are not based on conventional materials. The metals used are critical
current energy storage approaches lithium-ion technology, nor use raw materials and access to these
and products such as resource scarce raw materials. What these resources is anything but guaranteed.

Polymer Redox-Flow Battery

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