Eight years ago, Fraunhofer IKTS and battery manufacturer Altech started developing a new solid-state battery. Now the technology is ready for industrial product development and a suitable site has also already been found: A new plant for the high-performance batteries is to be built in the Schwarze Pumpe industrial park in Saxony, Germany, where Altech is located. Now, the go-ahead was given for the feasibility study based on the Fraunhofer IKTS process description. With its engineering services, Leadec is responsible here for reproducing the process industrialization in a complete factory planning. "Leadec has extensive experience in battery manufacturing and will play a key role in driving the final feasibility study for the commercialisation of CERENERGY® solid-state sodium-alumina batteries," said Uwe Ahrens, CEO of Altech Advanced Materials AG.
Initial target: 100 MWh per year
The production plant planned by Altech Group is expected to produce 10,000 battery modules per year, each with a capacity of 10 KWh. There are many possible applications for the solid-state batteries. The batteries will be installed in stationary energy storage systems, for example for renewable energies (wind, solar), as a component of the charging infrastructure for e-vehicles and in industry. Batteries also serve as energy storage in private households to provide a buffer between power generation and power consumption. And last but not least, electricity suppliers can avoid peak load capping in their megaparks.
Components conserve resources
The sodium-aluminum oxide solid-state batteries are particularly compelling because of the raw materials used. Saline is mainly used, with small amounts of nickel. This makes the batteries fire- and explosion-proof and at the same time easy to store. Added to this are a service life of around 15 years and estimated 40% lower production costs compared with lithium-ion batteries.
Battery production know-how
Leadec is involved in several battery manufacturing projects. Services range from the planning of production sequences, installation of the line and IT-based quality testing to the creation of prototype cells. For example, Leadec supported the establishment of Volkswagen's battery production at the Braunschweig site. In existing battery production facilities - such as those of Mercedes-Benz in Kamenz - Leadec's experts maintain the battery lines.
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