Over the next eight months, a team of experts will analyse established and emerging storage systems, in particular with regard to the materials used and the technologies for the production of key components. The study results will be especially relevant for suppliers of materials, processing technologies and machinery and equipment. Companies wishing to evaluate the potential of their products, production technologies and know-how in the field of energy storage systems are invited to participate.
“As the market will grow significantly in the next few years, we see many applications and parts where we can use our resin systems,” states Thomas Wegman, Marketing Manager at Aliancys. “Composites score highly in both stationary and mobile storage systems due to their durability, chemical resistance and lightweight potential. We want to learn more about the market and where we can develop new applications for composites. Tackling this in the study together with other companies and their specific interests and insights is a good opportunity for us.”
A kick-off meeting on 30 January 2018 opened the first phase of the study, which focuses on detailed market segmentation, including the identification of market requirements and potentials as well as existing and future technologies and their respective readiness levels. In addition to energy storage in the transport sector, the study will examine storage systems and technologies in other market segments. These include thermal, electrochemical, mechanical and electrical storage systems. At the meeting, participants were given a first market overview including exemplary market segments and possible storage technologies. The study structure was presented on the basis of the two example technologies and applications of lithium-ion batteries in the automotive sector and power-to-gas technologies. In a workshop, the participating companies raised unanswered questions and provided initial impulses for focusing the study analyses by voting on relevant market segments.
“We, at Imerys Graphite & Carbon, see a booming energy storage systems market for the next several years – and that includes not only storage systems in electric vehicles, but also consumer electronics and stationary storage systems,” says Peter Adriaansen, Business Director Carbon Black at Imerys Graphite & Carbon. “From our point of view, this growth is currently underestimated by the market and we encourage companies in the supply chain to make the necessary investments to develop facilitating technologies, install raw material capacities and form alliances to support this growth. Imerys Graphite & Carbon is taking a leading position by investing heavily in the energy storage market, especially for lithium-ion batteries, as we see an increase in our company’s turnover coming from this market, and at the same time we strategically invest in it. We are aware of the fact that working together with strong partners that choose to grow with us is key to thrive in this context of market expansion. The AZL study is designed to help us identify and connect with the right partners.”
After the market analysis of the first phase of the study, the team will identify applications in the field of energy supply, the operation of power grids as well as stationary decentralised and mobile applications. Different system configurations, materials and components will be analysed to identify the respective technological enablers. In the final phase of the study, supply chains (providers of systems, materials and technologies) and business models with future technological potential and requirements will be elaborated.
The initiative is designed as a joint consortium study. Participants will meet with company representatives from different industries and market segments as well as external experts in various project meetings and workshops. Study participants thus become a direct part of the study and can influence progress according to their specific requirements.
