METHODOLOGY

Carbon neutrality and climate resilience are the main motivators for research and innovation actions in energy systems within the current century. In relation to the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals from the United Nations , among others, efficiency improvements and a higher penetration of renewable energies in the smart grid are essential to achieve an affordable according to stability/avalibility and flexibility in saving and consumption of energy. With increasing amounts of renewable energies in the European energy market, new challenges for private and public grids arise. The HyFlow system guarantees the fast and flexible availability of electricity by taking into account electricity peaks of private and public loads or renewable energy production. Storage technologies, in form of batteries and innovative solutions for energy systems, play an outstanding role in the current and future energy supply. Batteries in stationary applications ensure affordable prices, secure supply in a system predominantly powered by renewable energy sources. To provide new solutions for energy systems, substantial improvements of batteries in terms of materials, efficiency and performance, control strategies, environmental impact and even new hybridization methods are mandatory.

The project HyFlow addresses all these challenges by developing a Hybrid Energy Storage System (HESS) that is capable of meeting high-energy and high-power demands. Through the project, we create a modern and sustainable energy storage system following the goal of the European Union to decrease the global environmental impact.

Modern energy grids are smart and rely on fluctuation of the renewable energies sources, e.g. solar power, and are characterized by higher fluctuations in both power generation and energy consumption. In order to absorb resulting power peaks and to cope with the increased demand for renewable energies, modern grids need more dynamic storage systems. Hybrid energy storage systems (HESS) with high-power redox flow batteries and supercapacitors working as a team are uniquely suited to provide multiple system services at low cost and without the use of critical resources. The EU-funded project HyFlow will focus on technological, economic and ecological improvements of the HESS components, their management systems and their interaction through the complete supply chain. Through the project, we enhance components for optimal hybridization, by improved material utilization and cell design, and develop high-level control algorithms. Redox flow batteries and supercapacitors – HyFlow brings the best of both worlds together. This way, our solution can unlock different applications in the grid, boosting the stability and a flexibility in saving energy.

The outcomes of HyFlow will contribute to the ambitious goals of the European Green Deal by addressing the issues of carbon neutrality and climate resilience. The developed system will enable the usage of affordable and clean energy. We will improve its efficiency and its use will allow a higher penetration of renewable energies. Our technology will have a high impact on climate change mitigation, which is of essential importance to socio-ecological aspects. By increasing the amount of renewable energies in our future energy system, global warming will be curbed.

Batteries and innovative solutions for energy systems will play an outstanding role in the current and future energy supply. HyFlow will be a part of these solutions and add to the possibilities available to the society.