Process integration of electrochemical systems with energy infrastructure
Electrochemical Energy Systems
Electrochemical Energy Systems include energy conversion and storage systems that use an electrochemical process as its core element to achieve decarbonization of an end-user. This is the research focus area in which we take the sub-component and device-level experimental data and theoretical studies and integrate them into holistic analyses to perform process integration, scale-up, and techno-economic modelling.
We study the integration of electrochemical systems with the energy infrastructure, i.e., the electric grid, the gas grid, and their markets, as well as with specific energy end-users, e.g., shipping, aviation, heavy duty transportation, residential and industrial sectors. Thanks to the distributed conversion of products unlocked by electrochemical systems, new decarbonized energy infrastructure will be needed, such as a CO2 grid, and a hydrogen grid.
Process integration, thermodynamic modelling, and a deep understanding of the context in which energy systems must operate are at the core of our work to ensure a successful implementation of these technologies.
Energy Storage does not mean “electric energy storage”. Numerous other technologies other than secondary electrochemical batteries can be used to provide energy storage services. Contrarily to common perception, a combination of mechanical, thermal, electric, and chemical storage will be needed to address the energy storage challenges of a 100% renewable economy. The systems that we study can provide different energy storage services exploiting the integration with diverse energy vectors.
