ECO-SMART BATT

Sustainable 4.0 manufacturing of nanocomposites and ionogels for energy-dense batteries.

CONSORTIUM:

• FERROGLOBE INNOVATION S.L
• ABCR LABORATORIOS, S.L.
• ENSO INNOVATION S.L
• ARTABRO TECH S.L.
• FUNDACIÓN CENTRO TECNOLÓGICO DE INVESTIGACIÓN MULTISECTORIAL

OBJECTIVE:
The main objective of the project is to significantly improve the energy density, cost and sustainability of lithium-ion batteries thereby facilitating the transformation of the transport sector towards sustainability, decarbonisation and emission reduction.

This will be achieved through:

• Novel research in sustainable and smart manufacturing of advanced active and inactive materials and their synergistic combinations for the different components of the electrochemical cell (anode, electrolyte and separators) and,
• Research in monitoring, control and simulation technologies to design new, more efficient and cost-effective production processes for the different materials and electrochemical cells to be obtained during the project.

GRANT AGREEMENT: IN854A 2020/04

TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET: 2.752.750,98€

2021 ANNUITY ADVANCES:
CETIM has carried out the three-dimensional modeling of the Digital Twins of the nanocellulose and nanosilicon manufacturing processes, laying the foundations for what will be a simulation model for the optimization of both processes. On the other hand, it has started the development of a blockchain application that guarantees the origin of raw materials as well as their traceability and transparency during all processes. For this, an exhaustive study of the different blockchain networks currently available has been carried out, which has culminated in the selection of the ideal network for the characteristics of both processes (nanosilicon and nanocellulose). All of this has been done betting on the incorporation of different Industry 4.0 tools that will allow the automation of operations: from capturing key information for the supplier and end user to the robotization of the battery assembly process, for which will build a pilot test during the next annuities.

2022 ANNUITY ADVANCES:
During 2022, progress has been made in the implementation of an automated system for the battery assembly process based on collaborative robotics techniques, which has been complemented with the use of blockchain and RFID technologies to ensure the traceability of the raw materials used during the process. Additionally, progress has been made in the development of the Digital Twins that will allow an analysis to be carried out to guarantee the achievement of the production objectives previously established through process optimization.

2023 ANNUITY ADVANCES:
In this last year, CETIM has carried out the integration of the blockchain systems deployed to control the traceability of the processes for obtaining nanosilicon and nanocellulose. Based on the different needs detected by the partners, additionally, an automated stock control system has been deployed with RFID technologies that allows the raw materials registration, production processes and products in an automated way, after validation in the plant. This provides a reliable and more effective system for controlling materials at all stages of production. Finally, the blockchain system has been deployed for the assembly process traceability, which uses the nanosilicon and nanocellulose systems as a base in order to carry out a global traceability process integrated between the three systems. The automation of this stage has also been carried out, for which a Digital Twin has been made, which has allowed validation, prior to application, of the handling tool designed for the project, detecting improvements and deviations in a totally digital environment, which has led to savings in time and cost. Finally, the entire system has been manufactured, installed and validated. Thus, it has completed the integration of the whole cycle.

FUNDING:
This project is granted by the Galician Innovation Agency in the framework of the 2020 call of the “Fábrica del futuro, fábrica inteligente y sostenible de la industria 4.0” aid programme. The grants awarded under this programme have been co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under Axis 1 (Promoting research, technological development and innovation) of the ERDF Galicia 2014-2020 operational programme.  The project is supported by theVicepresidencia Segunda and Consellería de Economía, Empresa e Innovación.