European MODALIS² Project Wraps Up, Paving the Way for HELENA: A Glimpse into the Future of Batteries
In a significant milestone for battery technology, the European MODALIS² (Modeling of Advanced LI Storage Systems) project, spearheaded by the IFPEN Transports Energie Carnot Institute, has concluded with remarkable achievements in the realm of modeling and simulating next-generation batteries. The torch is now passed to the HELENA project, poised to usher in the batteries of tomorrow.
The concluding assembly of the European MODALIS² project, which saw participation from nine other European partners including Saft, Siemens Digital Industry Software, Siemens Corporate Technologies, Umicore, Solvay, K&S, CRF, Gemmate Technologies, and Turin University, took place in late August 2023. Funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, MODALIS² made significant strides in modeling and simulating Gen 3b and Gen 4b batteries. These forthcoming battery iterations, leveraging innovative materials like silicon-based alloys for negative electrodes (Gen 3b) and solid electrolytes (Gen 4b), necessitate ongoing refinement of the developed models for accurate characterization.
Stepping into the breach is the HELENA project, similarly supported by the European Union's Horizon 2020 program and dedicated to propelling "all-solid-state" batteries. This endeavor is led by the esteemed Spanish laboratory, CIC EnergyGUNE, and commenced its journey in June 2022.
Leveraging the advancements in modeling and sustained research across diverse domains, European industry players are redoubling their efforts to enhance battery technology. The ultimate aim is to deliver electric vehicles that are not only more efficient but also endowed with extended onboard energy autonomy.
The HELENA project sets its sights on crafting a cutting-edge, energy-efficient solid-state battery cell (Gen 4b batteries). This innovation hinges on an Ni-rich, high-capacity NMC cathode, a high-energy Li metal (LiM) anode, and an Li-ion superionic halide solid electrolyte, championed by Saint Gobain for applications in both vehicular and aviation realms. This endeavor promises to empower electric aircraft to take flight, facilitating a significant stride towards Europe's ecological transformation and reducing dependency on Asian sources. Overseeing the overarching modeling endeavors is the IFPEN Transports Energie Carnot Institute, anchoring support for all facets of the project's development.
