Consortium

CIC energiGUNE

CIC energiGUNE is an energy storage research center specialized in electrochemical storage (batteries and supercapacitors), thermal energy solutions and hydrogen technologies that aims to generate disruptive scientific knowledge in materials and technological solutions related to energy, and contributing to improve industry competitiveness and sustainable development.

Within the project, CIC energiGUNE takes the coordination of HELENA and the development and integration of solid-state batteries. CIC energiGUNE also participates in the manufacturing of small cells of 1 Ah and gives its support in the initial testing of the cells/modules to verify the conformity.

AIT-Austrian Institute of Technology

The AIT Austrian Institute of Technology is Austria´s largest research and technology organization. Among the European research institutes, AIT is a specialist in the key infrastructure issues of the future. As an Ingenious Partner to industry and public institutions, AIT is already researching and developing the technologies, methods and tools of tomorrow ‑ paving the way for the innovations of the day after tomorrow.

Within the HELENA project AIT supports the lab scale preparation of battery components and cell assembly with the development of catholyte formulation and processing, electrochemical characterization of individual battery components and assembly of 1Ah prototype pouch cell format.

Saint Gobain Recherche

Worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and services for the construction and industrial markets. Its integrated solutions for the renovation of public and private buildings, light construction and the decarbonization of construction and industry are developed through a continuous innovation process and provide sustainability and performance.

Within the HELENA project, Saint-Gobain takes charge in the development of halide battery technology by providing best in class halide electrolyte materials to the consortium, while optimizing and improving considerably the performance and manufacturability properties of the electrolytes and support the development of halide- based cell components.

Umicore

Umicore is a leading circular materials technology company with an extensive expertise in the fields of material science, chemistry and metallurgy. Umicore generates the majority of its revenue and dedicates most of its R&D efforts to clean technologies, such as emission control catalysts, materials for rechargeable batteries and recycling.

Umicore’s overriding goal of sustainable value creation is based on an ambition to develop, produce and recycle materials in a way that fulfils its mission: materials for a better life. Within the HELENA project Umicore studies the compatibility between solid electrolyte and cathode materials portfolio and provides with adequate proprietary cathode materials.

Lionvolt

LionVolt is an innovative battery start-up company (spun out of TNO at Holst Centre) located within the High Tech Campus of Eindhoven, in the Netherlands. Founded in the spring of 2020, its Mission is to develop and scale 3D solid-state batteries that deliver high performance, fast charging, intrinsic safety, and are sustainable. They are backed- up with 7 years of R&D, and aim to start establishing a scalable giga factory within the next five years to become a key player within the global battery industry.

Within the HELENA project, Lionvolt is in charge of the design of the polymer-based anolyte (i.e., an electrolyte specifically for the anode), developed into an interlayer for the proposed battery chemistry.

Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek (TNO)

TNO is the independent organization for applied research, which aims to connect people and knowledge in order to create innovations that sustainably enhance the competitiveness of companies and the well-being of society.

Within the HELENA project TNO develops passivation coatings on Lithium metal anode and porous cathode (nm-scale interface engineering) using s-ALD to increase stability and cycle-life of battery chemistries. In addition, TNO also explores sALD coating on halide impregnated cathode to reduce instability of halide electrolyte with lithium metal anode. On the exploratory route, Li seeding layers using sALD layer will also be researched for Li free approach.

Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forschung

Fraunhofer IST

Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST harnesses the potential for sustainable products and associated competitive, scalable production systems. Their research encompasses the plant technology, entire process chains of the process and production engineering up to the consideration of entire factories. Starting from the requirements of sustainability, they keep an eye on the entire product life cycle - from the material through the process to the component and product to recycling. One of the main competence fields of Fraunhofer IST includes solutions for battery production

Within the HELENA project Fraunhofer IST will take part in the processing and optimization of lab-scale battery components via wet coating and the development of an extrusion-based manufacturing route. Fraunhofer will also contribute to the development of numerical models to describe the charge transfer, and mechanical behavior of halide-based ASSB electrodes.

CustomCells

Founded in 2012 as a spin-off from the Fraunhofer Institute, CustomCells innovates and industrialized customer-centric premium battery technology, powering the global energy transition for a better future. Based in Izehoe and Tübingen, the company employs over 200 dedicated professionals and enables customers throughout the entire value chain -from initial concept development to the commissioning of series production facilities.

Within the HELENA project, CustomCells leads the scaling of electrode production processes and cell assembly. This involves investigating the manufacturing conditions and assessing the transferability of the production processes to large-scale manufacturing.

RWTH Aachen University

With its 260 institutes in nine faculties, RWTH Aachen University is among the leading European scientific and research institutions. RWTH is a hotbed of ideas and a laboratory for the future. In University institutes and research centers, scientists are developing innovative technologies, processes and products. With their knowledge and expertise, they are in demand as cooperation partners around the globe.

Within the HELENA project RWTH Aachen University contributes in materials supply, optimization and scale up specifically in the Li metal interphase design via electrochemical method in the Li metal anode. They also contribute in lab scale preparation of battery components and cell assembly and interface analysis and post- mortem evaluation.

Mimi Tech

MIMITech GmbH is a German based consulting company specializing in extractive metallurgy of non-ferrous metals and process technology for metallic high tech materials. The focus is to provide metallurgical expertise to smelters and refineries and to those companies that fabricate, trade, design, specify and test respective equipment.

MIMITech is involved in activities related to working out a recycling concept by comparing different suitable methods and process steps. The recycling path is specifically designed for the cell type in this project.

Ifp Energies Nouvelles

IFP Energies nouvelles (IFPEN) is a major research and training player in the fields of energy, transport and the environment. From research to industry, technological innovation is central to all its activities, structured around four strategic priorities: climate, environment and circular economy, renewable energies, sustainable mobility and responsible oil and gas.

Within the HELENA project IFPEN develops modeling and simulation approaches as well as the aging modelling in Gen4b batteries.

Pipistrel Vertical Solutions Doo Podjetje Za Napredne Letalske Resitve

Pipistrel Aircraft is an aviation & aerospace company based in Slovenia. It has more than 30 years of tradition in ultralight and general aviation industry. Starting from a small business it has become the leading producer of efficient aircraft with electric and hybrid propulsion.

Pipistrel Aircraft’s role is to develop packaging technologies for Halide Solid State Cells, with minimum overpack weight.

Leonardo - Societa Per –azioni

Leonardo is a global high-tech player in Aerospace, Defense and Security. Leonardo offers a wide range of defense and security solutions to Governments, Institutions, and citizens that includes every possible intervention scenario: aerial and terrestrial, naval and maritime, space and cyberspace, working closely with local customers and partners to strengthen global security, provide essential physical protection and cybersecurity services for people, territories and infrastructure networks and support scientific and technological research.

Within the HELENA project, Leonardo, as the main contributor of the "Battery EV and aircraft requirements and specifications" Work package sets the requirements at battery pack/module level, whereas some other partners will convert those requirements into targets for battery cells to be developed and tested.

FEV Europe GmbH

FEV is an internationally recognized leader in the design and development of internal combustion engines, conventional, electric, and alternative vehicle drive systems, energy technology, and a major supplier of advanced testing and instrumentation products and services to some of the world´s largest powertrain OEMs.

Within the HELENA project FEV is involved in the specification of the requirements towards the battery cells to be developed and in the design of the pre-industrial scale up and manufacturing. FEV brings, also, its expertise in abuse testing of battery cells and is involved as industrial partner for life cycle assessment.

Zabala Innovation Consulting

Zabala Innovation Consulting is a leading international consultancy firm in innovation strategy and R&D&I financing. Since 1986, they support clients in their entrepreneurial drive through the search for financing and the management and promotion of innovation.

Zabala participates in the communication, dissemination and exploitation tasks leading the development of an exploitation action plan to ensure the ultimate exploitation of all the innovations carried out along the project.

Consortium

CIC energiGUNE

AIT-Austrian Institute of Technology

Saint Gobain Recherche

Umicore

Lionvolt

Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek (TNO)

Fraunhofer IST

CustomCells

RWTH Aachen University

Mimi Tech

Ifp Energies Nouvelles

Pipistrel Vertical Solutions Doo Podjetje Za Napredne Letalske Resitve

Leonardo - Societa Per –azioni

FEV Europe GmbH

Zabala Innovation Consulting

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