The paramount goal of the research cluster in the P2X Kopernikus-project is to transfer the findings of previous fundamental work into practice. The novel catalysts for the anode side of hydrogen producing PEM electrolysis will be combined with particularly thin membranes and integrated into an adapted commercial cell stack with a maximum output of several 100 kW. An important consideration in this respect is whether or not these stacks' service life is long enough. ZAE Bayern will take charge of characterising the performance and investigating the long-term stability of short stacks provided by other project partners. Moreover, the long-term loss of precious metal (iridium) in real PEM electrolysis cells will be assessed.

Head of Project: Maximilian Möckl, maximilian.moeckl@zae-bayern.de
Project Duration: 09/2019–08/2022

The upcoming energetic coupling of the transport and electricity sectors as well as the options offered by grid-integrated energy storage create new potentials and challenges alike. The effects of grid-integrated storage on the need for further grid expansion or the potential use of battery-electric vehicles as a flexibility option, for example, have not yet been looked at in detail. Investigating these scenarios requires a detailed and complete system model which covers battery storages, electric mobility, and time series of the future electricity generation in distribution grid structures.

In cooperation with the Technical University of Munich and the Reiner Lemoine Institute Berlin, an open-source modelling tool is being realised and made publicly available in the open_BEA project. This simulation platform allows for the detailed modelling of the ageing and performance of redox-flow and lithium-ion storage systems as well as time series simulations of a complete distribution network with a large number of producers, consumers, and storages. The newly created software may be used, for example, to model how to best position, dimension, and operate stationary storage units to provide grid-serving services such as reactive power. Similarly, parameterised simulations can be used to find the most cost-effective storage technology for a given application.

Head of Project: Dr. Matthias Rzepka, matthias.rzepka@zae-bayern.de
Project Duration: 11/2018–10/2021

Website: www.openbeaproject.wordpress.com/

The project aims at the timely provision of a new generation of efficient and low-maintenance electrical redox flow storage systems. These serve to smooth out fluctuations in renewable electricity generation and, thus, contribute to the energy system transition. The main focus lies on improving the redox flow battery's core component, the converter unit, which consists, among other elements, of electrodes and adapted flow frames.

Simulations and measurements of such electrodes in the predecessing project ELVABATT have shown how an unexpectedly large proportion of the electrode volume is not fully incorporated into the redox reaction. Due to the low ionic conductivity of the electrolyte, the reaction mostly takes place close to the membrane. Therefore, only about 1 mm of the electrode's thickness, which is usually about 4 mm, is effective with the rest remaining largely unused to date.

Hence, thinner electrodes are being developed in the ELVABATTslim project, which, when combined with a novel electrolyte flow guidance system, achieve at least a doubling in volume-specific power density. This allows for a more compact stack design, a significant reduction in material and thus battery cost, and, consequently, further improvement of the marketability of VRFB storage technology.

Head of Project: Stefanie Tafelmeier, stefanie.tafelmeier@zae-bayern.de
Project Duration: 11/2019–10/2021