Revolutionary energy future: organic batteries from Wiener Neustadt!

Revolutionary energy future: organic batteries from Wiener Neustadt!

In the heart of Wiener Neustadt, research into groundbreaking technologies is progressing that have the potential to revolutionize the energy industry. In the competence center for electrochemical surface technology (CEST), innovative organic red-ox flow batteries are used that could replace common lithium-ion batteries. These new batteries store energy in chemical compounds made of carbon, oxygen and nitrogen that are more environmentally friendly and flexible than their conventional predecessors. Christian Pichler, project manager at CEST, describes these systems as the solution to the future, which not only tackle the storage problems, but also reduce the dependency of expensive raw materials. The big advantage is that organic molecules can absorb and release electrons relatively easily, which increases the efficiency of the energy conversion.

automated production and sustainability in focus

The Multiflow project aims to further optimize the production of these Red-Ox flow batteries. Due to the automation of many manufacturing processes, the project manager Tobias Gerber promises to significantly reduce production costs and increase efficiency. The changeover to mass production techniques such as roll-to-roll and role-to-piece should not only increase production capacity, but also ensure consistently high product quality. As a result, these organic battery systems potentially become a cornerstone of the energy transition, emphasizes Gerber. As part of these developments, aspects such as ecodesign and recycling strategies are also taken into account in order to ensure sustainable and resource -saving production, as explained on the website of the Fraunhofer ICT.

The research initiatives in Lower Austria, supported by an investment of around 300,000 euros from state funds, are already showing great progress. Pichler is optimistic that the first series products could come onto the market within the next five to ten years. These technologies could be of crucial importance in particular for municipalities who want to maximize their own energy production from wind power and photovoltaics. The blossoming of environmentally friendly storage options in energy storage technology is of alarming importance for both industry and private households in order to cope with the future challenges of energy supply.