Batteries
Society is increasingly using green electricity generated by renewables such as solar or wind. Windmills or solar panels sometimes generate more electricity than is necessary at that time. In order to prevent a surplus and avoid waste of green electricity, it must be stored. For example, in batteries. In various collaborations, Shell researchers are exploring new materials and concepts that enable large-scale energy storage in batteries.
The so-called MELODY project is one such example. Shell works in a consortium with academic and industrial partners from the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, England and Israel. The researchers are developing a new generation of electrochemical energy storage in so-called redox flow batteries. Compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries, redox flow batteries use materials that are present in abundance, they can store larger amounts of energy, and have a longer lifespan. These advantages enable large-scale energy storage in batteries, giving batteries an even more important role to play in the energy transition.
In addition to large-scale energy storage in batteries which benefits the industry, Shell is also looking at solutions for consumers. From electric cars to telephones to laptops. Just about everything with an electric circuit requires batteries. In partnership with the Technical University of Applied Sciences in Delft and the Polymer Technology Group Eindhoven we are also investigating new electrolytes for high energy density batteries. Present lithium-ion batteries use liquid, flammable electrolytes that can raise safety concerns. The new battery configurations being developed consist entirely of solid materials. By replacing the liquid electrolyte with a solid counterpart, many safety problems are prevented. In this project, our partners are focusing on two promising combinations of materials that have the potential to make batteries safe and inexpensive while storing higher amounts of energy over longer periods of time.
These are just two examples. The of Shell in Amsterdam Advanced Energy Storage team works with various academic partners in Europe on future energy storage solutions.
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