Research Project

GREENERNET: a new battery for sustainable energy

In a research project for the development of a new organic redox flow battery, we have created an innovative energy management system that optimizes Smart Grids.

Where: international
Challenge
The Smart Grids are revolutionizing the energy infrastructure, allowing users to become producers and "sellers" of renewable energy. Redox flow batteries are among the best technologies for energy storage, but they are limited by high costs, low energy density, and limited stability of electrolyte solutions such as vanadium and zinc.
Approach
The GREENERNET project was born to overcome the limits of this technology, and at Engineering we have contributed by developing an innovative energy management system that optimizes energy flow within the Smart Grid.This project is co-funded under the European Union's H2020 program.
Solution
The GREENERNET project envisaged the evolution of an internally developed prototype of a redox flow battery for the Smart Grid context. This battery employs a novel organic material, anthraquinone disulfonate (AQDS), based on quinones, which are small, carbon-based organic molecules readily available in nature and cost-effective. These molecules are akin to those that store energy in plants and animals. The outcome is an innovative, low-cost energy storage system with a capacity of 10 kW and 40 kWh. The energy management system we developed as part of the project optimizes energy flows within the Smart Grid and draws inspiration from the energy management and balancing platform previously created by Engineering during the INGRID FP7 project, co-funded by the EU.
Results

 

 

 

 

Suitable for electric mobility programs in urban contexts

 

 

Lower redox batteries management costs

 

 

Better management of Smart Grids (networks and smart buildings)

Technologies

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