Nanotechnology key to energy storage

Nanotechnology is expected to bring significant benefits to the energy sector, especially to energy storage and solar energy, finds a recent study by the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI.

Improved materials efficiency and reduced manufacturing costs are the two key benefits that the technology already brings to these fields. Battery storage capacity could be extended, solar cells could be produced more cheaply and the lifetime of solar cells or batteries for electric cars could be increased with continued development of nanotechnology.

The study ‘Nanotechnology in the sectors of solar energy and energy storage’, commissioned by the IEC and Fraunhofer, found that a range of nanomaterials will grow in importance as technology continues to advance.

A key finding of the study is that technologies where ‘nano’ already plays an important role will be of special interest for industry and research.

The following nanomaterial technologies will be of particular importance: organic and printed electronics, nano-coatings, nano-composites, nano-fluids, nano-catalysts, nano-carbons and nano-electrodes. These seven technology profiles form the basis for two comprehensive roadmaps in the technical report.

For example, through the use of nanotechnology the light and energy generation of crystalline silicon solar cells or organic solar cells can already be significantly increased. Their manufacturing also requires less material and is more cost-efficient.

Energy storage capacity will significantly improve with the use of nanomaterials for lithium-ion batteries. This is by far the most important battery technology for energy storage since the early 1990s. This is particularly important in view of the constantly increasing demand for electric vehicles, whose success is also directly linked to battery performance and resulting range extension.

Dr Björn P Moller, project leader of this study at Fraunhofer ISI, is convinced that everything points to its large-scale application in solar power generation and energy storage, unlike many other fields where nanotechnology has been unable to make a breakthrough.

Moller said, “It can be assumed that in 2035 the share of fossil fuels in global energy production will have decreased to 75%. This implies that renewable energy will need to contribute significantly more to the overall energy generation. It is therefore crucially important that key technologies such as solar cells are further developed with the help of nanotechnology and that energy storage is improved.

“In some areas nanotechnology may even be a key to success. There is great potential for nanotechnology to help to mitigate the intermittency of renewable energy,” Moller said.

“Commissioning this study to evaluate the potential of nanotechnologies and the future role of nanomaterials in addressing the energy challenge helps the IEC to understand the kind of work that it needs to undertake to enable the broad rollout of these technologies,” said IEC General Secretary and CEO Frans Vreeswijk.

“Against the backdrop of an anticipated 30% increase of global energy demand by 2035 and the significant expansion of renewable energy coming into the grid, the study has found that nanotechnologies including new nanomaterials could be a key to successful renewable energy and energy storage integration.”