CIC energiGUNE, the Basque research center of reference in electrochemical energy storage, thermal energy storage and conversion and hydrogen technologies, has closed off its 2022 fiscal year with an increase in participation and leadership in European projects, as well as in the creation of disruptive transferable knowledge for the industry. Moreover, the center, member of the Basque Research and Technology Alliance-BRTA, has managed to increase the international recognition of its workforce, which has allowed the center to consolidate itself in the past year as an entity of European reference on matters of energy storage.
“During this year we have managed to consolidate ourselves as one of the most important research centers not only in Europe, but in the world in the field of energy storage, and the recent recognition that the European Commission itself has given us simply reasserts that” has declared general manager Nuria Gisbert. “Out work, determination, talent, professionalism, perseverance and above all believing in what we do and having a clear objective, is what, for yet another year, puts us in the cutting-edge group in the scientific research of the electrochemistry, thermal and hydrogen fields”, she has assured.
One of the most important milestones of the 2022 fiscal year for CIC energiGUNE was the signing of the pact of partners and the launch of BASQUEVOLT, the second spin-off that emerged from CIC energiGUNE after BCARE. The Basque initiative to develop its own pioneering technology in the field of solid-state batteries aspires to start the production of cells in 2027, with the objective of reaching 10GWh capacity. It is a strategic plan that is called to contribute in the development of Europe both in the race for batteries as well as in the storage industry, which is key to being able to advance in the energetic transition.
“Through BASQUEVOLT, we are looking to keep meeting our big objective and commitment, which is to generate scientific transferable knowledge to the industry, promoting this way an impact of great value in our immediate environment and contributing to the positioning and competitiveness of the Basque industrial network” has underlined Sara Ortiz, director of Strategy of the Center and member of the internal promoter team of BASQUEVOLT.
Beyond this milestone, as far as funding is concerned, 2022 has been the first year in which 30% of private billing has been reached, thanks to the development of 74 projects with industrial companies and agents. Another relevant milestone is that more than half of the projects and funding -55% in both cases- come from collaborations with Basque companies, which reinforces even further the orientation of CIC energiGUNE towards the most immediate regional ecosystem.
Distinguished leader in the development of European projects
Another great achievement of CIC energiGUNE in 2022 has been the obtaining of a success rate of a 100% in the funding program of the EC Horizon Europe in the call for batteries. The 9 projects in which the Basque center participates in have been included in the list of approved proposals, achievement that is within reach of very few organizations. All the projects are linked to the development of high-performance batteries, focused both on electromobility as well as other applications, which reinforces the position of the center as a European reference on solid-state batteries.
In this sense, CIC energiGUNE leads one of these projects, HELENA, whose objective is to develop solid-state halide batteries for electric vehicles and, speciallu, for aircrafts, since it is believed that electric aviation will be ready for takeoff in the next 5 or 10 years. In the rest of the projects, the Basque center acts as a strategic partner of research, ADVAGEN stands out, which pursues the development of a new technology of lithium metal battery cell based on a solid-state hybrid electrolyte that is safe, reliable and high performing; or PULSELiON, which has as an objective to facilitate the manufacturing of solid-state “Gen 4b” batteries suing a new technique of laser deposition.
Also part of this list are the projects BEST, the new technical secretariat of ETIP Batteries Europe; GIGAGREEN, designed to promote the next generation of processing techniques of cells and electrode components; SPINMATE, which has as an objective to put into practice a control line with a scalable, sustainable, safe and profitable digital concept; HIGHSPIN, for the development of a battery of a higher voltage that is free of cobalt; and SEATBELT, for the development of low-cost battery cells with a high power density, better safety and a sustainable design.
