Commercialising Lithium-Sulfur Battery Research
Faraday Institution supports UK-based start-up OXLiD to a successful acquisition by Gelion
Retaining a significant lithium-sulfur battery IP portfolio for the UK
Accelerating Research to Commercial Outcomes
Faraday Institution has a mission to not only sponsor fundamental world-class battery research, but to develop resulting discoveries into technologies with significant impacts on the competitive advantage of the British manufacturing industry.
The Institution does this by actively promoting novel means of translating the results of university battery research into technological advance, undertaking activities that go well beyond the remit of a standard research organisation.
Industry Partners
The Faraday Institution has developed collaborative links with more than 122 industrial partners in the automotive, aerospace, battery, and materials sectors, working in collaborative relationships that help to identify application needs as we continue to reshape our research programmes.
Contact us if you are an industry organisation looking to collaborate.
TSCAN Methodology
The Faraday Institution has developed an analytical methodology to assess early-stage commercialisation potential for each of its research projects. The assessment results in a bespoke approach to commercialisation tailored to each project, the prioritisation of limited resources and the development of consortia that are investment ready. The process has substantial input and support of the academic research teams and industrial partners (where relevant). The assessment is made up of the five components: Technology, Significance, Competition, Action and Investment. The methodology continues to change and develop.
For more details see Faraday Insight 13.
Commercialising Modelling Research
As a further example of the innovative commercialisation routes the commercialisation team is pursuing, the Faraday Institution has launched the Battery Parameter eXchange (BPX). This open standard supports the wider adoption of ‘industrial strength’ physics-based modelling globally across the battery industry. This chosen route to deliver industry impact from the Multi-scale Modelling project was derived after detailed conversations with a variety of a battery-based system developers around the benefits and challenges they face.
A standard in this sector will:
- Streamline the process of creating and using accurate physics-based models so that industry can exploit the advantages it can deliver (for example, as a virtual prototyping tool, to optimise battery management systems, and to offer insight on warranty provision);
- Accelerate the formation of a competitive supply chain in model creation, analysis tools and methodology support, which can reduce overall costs for industry;
- Increase the market size for physics-based modelling thereby stimulating more innovation and investment.
Successful open standards are steered and maintained by their users working together to mutual advantage in a standards body. Therefore, the commercialisation team is hoping to form such a body in 2024, which will be led by industrial users to ‘own’ the roadmap for BPX and any subsequent related standards.
Additionally, with PyBaMM (Python Battery Mathematical Modelling) and DandeLiion, the Multi-scale Modelling project is helping create global collaborative communities of battery modelers, including in industry.
Cell Analysis and Modelling System
The Faraday Institution has developed the Cell Analysis and Modelling System (CAMS) – a cell modelling workbook capable of modelling the energy density of experimental cell designs. The tool was designed to be used by battery researchers to rapidly assess the potential energy density of different cell chemistries and cell formats. The model can also be used as an educational tool to demonstrate how different cell components affect the energy density of the cell, and how the energy density of low TRL level electrode active materials would translate in a commercial cell format.
The workbook is capable of modelling four cell designs widely used in industry: cylindrical, pouch, prismatic (wound), prismatic (Z-stacked) as well as five cell chemistries: Li-ion, Na-ion, lithium-sulfur, all-solid-state cells, hybrid solid-state cells.
STEPS Programme
The Faraday Institution is working with partners on the Interreg North-West Europe (NWE) STEPS programme to strengthen the competitiveness of innovative storage providers by using a user-centric, demand-driven approach to bring products closer to market. STEPS aims to drive down the time energy storage SMEs typically spend on technology demonstration before reaching market maturity from an average of 5 years to 1-2, while maintaining maximum commercial usability.
Fellowships and Short Projects
The Faraday Institution has supported more than 30 entrepreneurial fellowships, industry fellowships and industry sprints, enabling the UK battery energy storage industry to sprint ahead
Industry Sprints
Short projects focused on specific short-term industry research needs that lie within the broad scope of our research projects.
Industry Fellows
This innovative programme is strengthening ties between industry and academic battery researchers in the UK with the aim of establishing or enhancing collaborative research with the potential for near- and longer-term benefit to the UK battery industry.
Entrepreneurial Fellows
Financial and business support to start-ups in the area of energy storage technologies to drive battery innovation.