Electrochemical Energy Storage Technologies for the 21st Century
Electrochemical systems provide a direct link between chemical processes and electricity, and they are not limited by the Carnot cycle. Efficiency, environmental footprint, modularity, scalability, economic competitiveness, and the fit with sustainable solutions will result in increased penetration of electrochemical technologies into different applications. Significant opportunities exist today for the use of electrochemical materials and technologies in different applications including transportation, grid management, energy storage and conversion, treatment of water, and synthesis of chemicals. Advancement of materials and associated engineering design will significantly improve electrochemical technology and close existing technical and economic gaps. In many cases these advantageous electrochemical systems are already competitive on an economic and functional basis with incumbent technologies but often face other implementation challenges.
This talk will focus on electrochemical energy storage technologies such as electrochemical capacitors, electrolysis and fuel cells, and batteries for efficient and stable energy system management. This is particularly important for intermittent renewable energy technologies which require efficient and reliable electrical energy storage, where approaches such as “Power-to-Gas” look promising. Different aspects of advanced electrochemical energy storage technologies will be discussed including examples from our own research in fuel cells, electrolysis, and next generation batteries.