ORANGES is an ambitious project by 4 million euros, focused on the development of advanced materials for a new generation of green batteries. Over there partnership, completely Italianincludes the National Research Council (CNR) as leader, together with ENEA, the National Interuniversity Consortium for the Science and Technology of Materials, the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), Energy System Research (RSE) and at Standex International Corp. The primary goal is to create increasingly sustainable, powerful, safe and cheap batteriesto support the transition to a greener energy future.
ORANGEES’ contribution to the transformation of the energy sector: innovation, sustainability and new opportunities
«The project aims to contribute to the achievement of the very challenging objectives needed at community level in the energy sector and implemented by Italy through the PNIEC, the Integrated National Plan for Energy and Climate, which is currently being updated in light of the recent geopolitical crises. The aim is to encourage innovation, sustainability and future new businesses towards the emerging sectors of the market along the entire value chain involving the electrochemical storage device, through more conscious choices, starting from the design of the device that it will be. battery of the future”he claims Alessandra Di Blasiresearcher at the “Nicola Giordano” Institute of Advanced Energy Technologies (Itae) of the Cnr, scientific director of ORANGEES.
Organic materials from industrial waste: a green revolution
ORANGEES aims to develop new materials, both hybrid and biological, obtained from waste from the agri-food industry, such as casein, whey, keratin, prickly pear and cellulose. The aim is to validate these materials for electrochemical performance and environmental sustainability, gradually reducing the inorganic component. ENEA focuses on the selection of waste and natural by-products to be produced green membranes and electrodespromoting industrial synergies “regarding the disposal of batteries, in accordance with the principles of the circular economy”, as he indicates Mariasole di Carliresearcher at the ENEA Energy Storage, Batteries and Technologies for the Production and Use of Hydrogen Laboratory and project manager for the Agency.
Safety and performance are the focus of research
Safety and performance are at the core of ORANGEES’ research activities. The project aims to achieve this through the development of semi-solid electrolytes and the validation of new technological solutions improve both battery performance and safety, and thus responds to the growing needs of the market.
Research lines for innovative components
The ORANGEES project includes five lines of researchof which three focus on experimental activities about the materials used in the components of batteries and supercapacitors. Over there First line aims to create hybrid components to reduce costs while maintaining performance and improving storage and safety, especially compared to lithium, with the development of semi-solid electrolytes.
The second line studies various organic compounds as possible replacements for current materials, looking for solutions that maintain the performance of traditional batteries and reduce the impact on the environment from the beginning to the end of the life cycle. Over there third line focuses on organic materials derived from industrial waste, looking for sustainable solutions that are easily available or arise from circular economy processes.
The most promising organic materials will then be investigated through computer simulations, life cycle assessments and tests conducted with Standex International (industrial partner) to evaluate the potential benefits on the final electrochemical performance.
Currently, lithium-ion batteries dominate the market for portable electronic devices and electric/hybrid transportation, but growing demand for lithium requires sustainable alternatives based on abundant and cheap raw materials for energy storage from renewable sources. Safety remains a key requirement, and issues associated with flammable and toxic solvent-based liquid electrolytes still need to be addressed.
The future of batteries: new perspectives and innovative materials
«The recent one roadmap on electrochemical storage systems prepared by the European Technology Platform ETIP Batteries Europe in fact, it shows what the medium-term evolution looks like towards latest-generation batteries, based on new mechanisms of action (conversion and solid-state systems) and alternative materials. Of the latter, organic compounds are of interest, as they will be developed and characterized within the ORANGEES project,” concludes Giulia MonteleoneDirector of the ENEA Department for Energy Technologies and Renewable Sources.
Sustainability and Innovation: the objectives of ORANGEES
ORANGEES is at the forefront of the search for sustainable and high-performance solutions for the batteries of the future. The project is preparing for this with an Italian partnership and an interdisciplinary approach redefining the parameters of the battery sectorthus contributing to creating a greener and safer energy future.