Periodic Reporting for period 3 - TEESMAT (OPEN INNOVATION TEST BED FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL ENERGY STORAGE MATERIALS)
Reporting period: 2021-10-01 to 2022-08-31
Despite more than 200 years of development efforts for batteries, the physical limits of battery performance are far from being reached. The complexity of physico-chemical processes inside batteries renders any development strongly dependent on the proper description and monitoring of the evolution and interaction of all the materials involved in the functioning of an electrochemical cell. The main figures of merit (specific energy per mass, volume or cost unit, safety, and cycle or calendar life) can theoretically all be substantially improved, under the condition of a proper understanding of where and how their limits are reached in current industrialised systems. This underlines how much this important part of our technological future depends on novel and accessible characterisation techniques. Access to advanced characterisation solutions for the EU industry will be critical to accelerate innovation and reduce the substantial cost of the relevant materials.
TEESMAT brings a comprehensive response to this challenge by leveraging European strengths from 11 Countries and facilitating access to physical facilities, capabilities and services implementing novel characterisation solutions with unprecedented capability & performance. Instrumental to this is the launch of a sustainable Open Innovation Test Bed (OITB) in which qualified public/private partners are demonstrating high-value services for advanced characterisation on industrial cases in the value chain of electrochemical energy storage systems. A strong EU community will be built up to propel the continuity of the initiative beyond TEESMAT with a viable, business-driven and lean model of operation to create a market for advanced characterisation services.
The main objectives of the project are:
- To set-up an OITB to provide effectively, centrally managed access to advanced materials’ characterisation, modelling and data solutions
- To demonstrate the OITB added value by solving persistent, high-impact industrial problems
- To ensure the OITB’s growth, longevity, financial sustainability and stakeholder support
TEESMAT brings a comprehensive response to this challenge by leveraging European strengths from 11 Countries and facilitating access to physical facilities, capabilities and services implementing novel characterisation solutions with unprecedented capability & performance. Instrumental to this is the launch of a sustainable Open Innovation Test Bed (OITB) in which qualified public/private partners are demonstrating high-value services for advanced characterisation on industrial cases in the value chain of electrochemical energy storage systems. A strong EU community will be built up to propel the continuity of the initiative beyond TEESMAT with a viable, business-driven and lean model of operation to create a market for advanced characterisation services.
The main objectives of the project are:
- To set-up an OITB to provide effectively, centrally managed access to advanced materials’ characterisation, modelling and data solutions
- To demonstrate the OITB added value by solving persistent, high-impact industrial problems
- To ensure the OITB’s growth, longevity, financial sustainability and stakeholder support
As of the second reporting period, the OITB is now set-up and providing its services to dozens of user cases, through a well-established Single Entry Point. The various techniques have been deployed and progressively validated on more than 40 user cases, and the project already recorded more than 600 samples. Three selected success stories already demonstrate its added value and are being advertised on the website. The website is continuously improved to give an overview of the services proposed, and to allow service users to take contact with the Single Entry Point. The TEESMAT database is progressively being populated by samples and test results, and its value will grow as the data accumulates. Development of data formats, exchange protocols and code is being performed on each technique in order to allow as fast and automated import as possible. A particular attention is given to the access control on the database. From the user cases treated, common approaches and typical workflows are being developed in order to speed up the treatment of future similar user cases. The focus has been on expanding the range of services provided on the one hand, and the range of users and user cases on the other hand. This is done by recruiting external service providers and external service users, actively preparing the future sustainability of the OITB. Feedback from service users is actively used to progressively enhance the service, the processes, and the tools.
The second reporting period has been the time to actively prepare the sustainable OITB operation, by updating the business plan, preparing the continuity plan, checking the commercialization capability, and above all drafting the future collaboration agreement which will rule the interactions between the Single Entry Point and the Service Providers after the end of the H2020 project. Details of the future contracting scheme are being settled.
Dissemination and communication is also strengthening via communications in conferences, webinars, EBN event, preparation of publications. A summer school was delayed by COVID19 but will be converted into a winter school in January 10th to 15th.
The second reporting period has been the time to actively prepare the sustainable OITB operation, by updating the business plan, preparing the continuity plan, checking the commercialization capability, and above all drafting the future collaboration agreement which will rule the interactions between the Single Entry Point and the Service Providers after the end of the H2020 project. Details of the future contracting scheme are being settled.
Dissemination and communication is also strengthening via communications in conferences, webinars, EBN event, preparation of publications. A summer school was delayed by COVID19 but will be converted into a winter school in January 10th to 15th.
TEESMAT serves as an enabling testbed for the EU Battery Alliance, addressing the challenges of the European battery industry, such as reducing the lead time from lab to market, deploying innovations (for materials, chemistries, manufacturing processes), closing skills gaps, increasing the sustainability of battery manufacturing & use, increasing the EU’s recycling/second life potential, compliance with regulations and standardisation.
Today, there is no one-stop-shop at which a company or public institute can access all the methods necessary to solve complex problems in the area of electrochemical energy storage systems. The TEESMATplatform will be the first to serve this purpose by translating industrial needs into characterisation workflows. TEESMAT has already earned industrial credibility and already hooks the Service Providers (SPs) developing services with the Services Users (SUs). The project already includes ten industries as SUs. TEESMAT is going further by helping to solve persistent industrial problems via materials characterisation in the frame of more than 25 User Cases (UCs). 21 UCs have been already detailed and discussed with service providers. So far, each industrial partner has proposed at least one UC. All SU have been contacted to find new opportunities of a UC. Each UC involves different characterisation techniques and at least two SPs.
The characterisation techniques proposed in TEESMAT enable a knowledge-based approach to batteries development. Thanks to the knowledge-based optimisation of manufacturing processes and materials, it is expected that the development time and cost will be significantly reduced. The problem-solving procedures offered by the platform will also increase the industry ability to comply with regulations and standards.
Today, there is no one-stop-shop at which a company or public institute can access all the methods necessary to solve complex problems in the area of electrochemical energy storage systems. The TEESMATplatform will be the first to serve this purpose by translating industrial needs into characterisation workflows. TEESMAT has already earned industrial credibility and already hooks the Service Providers (SPs) developing services with the Services Users (SUs). The project already includes ten industries as SUs. TEESMAT is going further by helping to solve persistent industrial problems via materials characterisation in the frame of more than 25 User Cases (UCs). 21 UCs have been already detailed and discussed with service providers. So far, each industrial partner has proposed at least one UC. All SU have been contacted to find new opportunities of a UC. Each UC involves different characterisation techniques and at least two SPs.
The characterisation techniques proposed in TEESMAT enable a knowledge-based approach to batteries development. Thanks to the knowledge-based optimisation of manufacturing processes and materials, it is expected that the development time and cost will be significantly reduced. The problem-solving procedures offered by the platform will also increase the industry ability to comply with regulations and standards.