Residual streams from the forest can build sustainable batteries

Energy storage is a rapidly growing field of research and society is in great need of new electrical energy storage systems due to the rapid expansion of digital devices, portable electronics, electric vehicles, etc. Batteries are a type of energy storage system with high increased demand in the coming years. More durable battery alternatives are needed to meet this demand in a way that does not negatively affect the environment.

On January 1, 2023, the GreenBattery project will start. The goal of the project is to produce a battery prototype with durable components without compromising the battery's performance.

Today, several Gigafactories are being built in Europe. Unfortunately, several of these do not yet comply with the EU sustainability principles that apply to batteries, because harmful or even toxic compounds are used in cell assembly and active electrode materials contain critical raw materials. Graphite is a commonly occurring mineral used in the manufacture of traditional batteries. As graphite consists of carbon, this project will try to develop a prototype of a bio-based battery that will use bio-carbon.

RISE Processum's role in the project is to develop bio-based battery components with high ionic conductivity and good compatibility with other components. For the project, Processum will produce crystalline nanocellulose from various industrial side streams (e.g. fiber rejects) which will be used in the new bio-based components. The project will also carry out a techno-economic analysis (TEA) of the envisaged process.

- It will be great fun working with this project, partly because it is a new research area for us and partly because there are new interesting parties and researchers to work with, says Yvonne Söderström Nordin, senior project manager at RISE Processum.