The energy and mobility transition urgently needs efficient storage technologies. In order for electricity production to be able to do without fossil fuels in the long term, electricity producers, grid operators and consumers need, above all, efficient intermediate storage systems. Like the new basic technology from High Performance Battery Technology GmbH. Its solid-state battery, or rather its electrolyte, is the missing component: affordable, 50 per cent better environmental balance than conventional lithium-ion batteries and extremely durable. It also supports the mobility transition: it is non-flammable, fast-charging and does not require any critical raw materials – a real game changer.
The market potential for stationary energy storage is enormous: according to current calculations, the demand for buffer storage in Germany alone is 11.3 TWh (→ source). In order to cover this immense demand with batteries just once, around 87 gigafactories with an annual production of five gigawatt hours each (equal to five billion watt hours) would have to produce batteries for more than 25 years. Only then it would be possible to completely phase out fossil fuels in Germany by 2050.
As a new basic technology, the electrolyte and the solid-state battery from High Performance Battery Technology GmbH make an important contribution – it is the green key to a successful energy transition. You can find out more about its performance, outstanding properties, proof of functionality and production readiness → here.
Design
The battery itself is approx. 130x180x25mm in size and has a modular design. The cell design is prismatic and is enclosed in a stainless steel housing. Eight cells are installed per module, with an output of approximately 1.3 kWh per module.
The design of the storage units is modular in two respects: The outer shell follows a standard design, which is variable in terms of module configuration. For industrial storage systems, the storage unit is designed for 200 kWh; 10 storage units require approximately the space of an overseas container and would then have a capacity of 2 MWh. For home storage, the storage unit is designed for 10 kWh; for high requirements, up to three storage units can be combined for a household.
Both storage designs can be operated equally with the same cell production.
Fields of application
High Performance Battery Technology GmbH has identified a large number of fields of application – both stationary and mobile. In the future, battery storage systems could play an important role in the management of fluctuating electricity generation from wind or photovoltaics, or contribute to the expansion of the charging infrastructure, minimising the need to expand the grid and improving charging convenience at the same time.
Swiss Clean Battery is focussing on the stationary application fields of “home storage” and “industrial buffers”, because the demand and the contribution to solving problems in the energy transition are equally high here.
Home storage systems make it possible to significantly increase self-consumption by acting as a buffer between electricity generation and electricity consumption, ultimately increasing economic efficiency. They can also be used as buffers that mediate between the household and the electricity distribution grid – regardless of whether the household generates its own electricity.
A secure power supply, i.e. a balance between supply and demand and an uninterrupted power supply, is essential for the electricity grid as a whole and for the industry as well. Power outages or blackouts must be prevented, but with the increased use of renewable energies and the volatility of power generation, these are becoming more and more likely. Industrial buffers for data centres, energy-intensive industries, the power grids themselves or for neighbourhood solutions can contribute to grid stability. Positive effect: if successfully applied on the consumer side, peak load reduction leads to savings in electrical energy costs. It also helps to reduce the load on the electricity grids and grid infrastructure, as these have to be dimensioned for the maximum load case. See Rightsizing – but the right way! Designing battery storage systems for greater sustainability in the energy transition (→ White Paper, ISBN 9783968560304)