International Press Release Science
Energy storage is a key issue in the use of renewable resources. The New Technologies - Research Center (NTC) of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, which, among other things, develops solutions for ecological energy sources, participates in the European project HIGREEW, focused on redox flow batteries and the possibilities they can offer. With the support of the project coordinator Spanish research center CIC energiGUNE, the Dutch company Uniresearch and the Czech startup Pinflow Energy Storage, the NTC research center has invited members of this European project to Pilsen. The first project workshop will take place in the Great Hall of Plzeňský Prazdroj on March 2-3. The event is also intended for the public. It will take place in a hybrid form - in person in Pilsen, from where it will be broadcast online.
"Due to the decarbonisation of our society and the increasing use of renewable energy sources, redox flow batteries are becoming increasingly important. The production of for example solar or wind energy has intermittent nature. Thanks to redox flow batteries, the energy produced can be used at any time. In addition, they are non-flammable and non-explosive and their great advantage is their service life, which is longer than 25 years, "points out Jiří Vrána from the NTC research center and one of the founders of the Pinflow Energy Storage startup.
The HIGREEW project aims to develop a low-cost, aqueous organic redox flow battery (RFB) that is environmentally sustainable, has a high energy and power density, and has maximum lifetime and efficiency at minimum cost. The four-year project has received funding from The European Union´s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, began in 2019, and involves ten organizations from six different countries. The Pilsen workshop, which brings together project participants and leaders in the field of RFB, has the subtitle: "The crucial role of the energy transition: redox-flow batteries and their future in energy storage." The first day will be intended for the public interested in RFB, the second day will be followed by technical presentations.
"We will offer participants an insight into the issues of redox flow batteries, energy storage, and their key role in the energy transition with a focus on organic electrolytes. Experts in the field will present and discuss the technical aspects of RFB and compare them with alternatives. We will answer questions about their performance, durability, efficiency, maintenance and costs. Also presenting an outline of their technical maturity and potential for further development, "summarizes Miloš Svoboda, head of the research team of Engineering of Electrochemical Process from NTC, the program of the event. It will be held in English.
"Keynote speakers will be for example Peter Fischer from Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology, Anthony Price, Secretary-General of Flow Batteries Europe, and Michael J. Aziz from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Alexander Kronberg and Johan Blondelle from the European Commission also accepted the online invitation, " adds Jiří Vrána.
New Technologies - Research Centre (NTC) |
Šárka Stará |
28. 02. 2022 |