ORANGEES is an ambitious €4 million project focused on the development of advanced materials for a new generation of green batteries. The entirely Italian partnership includes the National Research Council (CNR) as lead partner, together with ENEA , the National Interuniversity Consortium for Materials Science and Technology , the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), the Energy System Research Institute (RSE), and Standex International Corp. The primary objective is to create increasingly sustainable, high-performance, safe, and low-cost batteries to support the transition to a greener energy future.
ORANGEES’s contribution to the transformation of the energy sector: innovation, sustainability and new opportunities
«The project aims to contribute to the achievement of the highly challenging objectives required at the EU level in the energy sector and implemented by Italy through the PNIEC (National Integrated Plan for Energy and Climate), currently being updated in light of recent geopolitical crises. The goal is to foster innovation, sustainability, and future new businesses in emerging market sectors along the entire value chain for electrochemical storage devices, through more informed choices, starting with the design of what will be the battery of the future. , says Alessandra Di Blasi , researcher at the Institute of Advanced Technologies for Energy “Nicola Giordano” (Itae) of the CNR, scientific director of ORANGEES.
Organic materials from industrial waste: a green revolution
ORANGEES aims to develop new materials, both hybrid and organic, obtained from agri-food industry waste , such as casein, whey, keratin, prickly pear, and cellulose. The goal is to validate these materials for electrochemical performance and environmental sustainability, gradually reducing the inorganic component. ENEA focuses on the selection of natural waste and by-products to produce green membranes and electrodes , promoting industrial synergies “related to battery disposal, in accordance with the principles of the circular economy.” as underlined by Mariasole Di Carli , researcher at the ENEA Laboratory for Energy Storage, Batteries and Technologies for the Production and Use of Hydrogen and project manager for the Agency.
Safety and performance at the heart of research
Safety and performance are at the heart of ORANGEES’s research. Through the development of semi-solid electrolytes and the validation of new technological solutions, the project aims to improve both the performance and safety of batteries, thus meeting growing market demands.
Research lines for innovative components
The ORANGEES project comprises five research lines , three of which focus on experimental activities on materials used in battery and supercapacitor components. The first line aims to create hybrid components to reduce costs while maintaining performance and improving storage and safety, especially compared to lithium, with the development of semi-solid electrolytes.
The second line studies various organic compounds as potential replacements for current materials, seeking solutions that maintain the performance of traditional batteries and reduce their environmental impact from start to finish. The third line focuses on organic materials derived from industrial waste, seeking sustainable solutions that are readily available or derived from circular economy processes.
The most promising organic materials will then be tested through computer simulations, life cycle analyses, and testing with Standex International (industry partner) to assess potential benefits on final electrochemical performance.
Lithium-ion batteries currently dominate the portable electronics and electric/hybrid transportation markets, but growing demand for lithium requires sustainable alternatives based on abundant and affordable raw materials for energy storage from renewable sources . Safety remains a key requirement, and issues related to liquid electrolytes based on flammable and toxic solvents remain to be addressed.
The future of batteries: new perspectives and innovative materials
“The recent roadmap on electrochemical storage systems drawn up by the European technology platform ETIP Batteries Europe shows, in fact, how the medium- to long-term evolution looks towards next-generation batteries based on new operating mechanisms (conversion and solid-state systems) and alternative materials. Among the latter, organic compounds are of interest, such as those that will be developed and characterized within the ORANGEES project,” concludes Giulia Monteleone , director of the ENEA Department of Energy Technologies and Renewable Sources.
Sustainability and Innovation: the goals of ORANGEES
ORANGEES is at the forefront of research into sustainable and high-performance solutions for the batteries of the future. With an Italian partnership and an interdisciplinary approach, the project is poised to redefine the parameters of the battery industry , thus contributing to the creation of a greener and more secure energy future.
Source: https://ilgiornaledellambiente.it/progetto-orangees-verso-una-nuova-era-delle-batterie-green/