Zeil, Heubisch, Schmid, Herrmann: “A robust impulse for research and energy management”

MUNICH Developing efficient and cost-effective electrical energy storage is a pivotal factor to Germany’s energy turnaround. The Bavarian State Government will be contributing 32 million euros to battery research at the Technische Universität München (TUM). “By promoting this future-relevant topic and drawing on first-rate sources of expertise from academia and industry, we are accelerating battery research in Bavaria. This represents an essential contribution to making the utilisation of renewable energy sources even more efficient in the future,” emphasises Bavaria’s Minister for Economic Affairs, Martin Zeil. The Minister for Science, Dr Wolfgang Heubisch, welcomes the collaboration between TU München and VARTA: “In a matter of a few years, TU München has established itself as a premier location for battery research thanks to outstanding scientists from here and abroad and the creation of interdisciplinary research structures. TU München is the ideal partner for this project.”

Over the next four years, TUM’s research will focus on innovative battery systems for stationary electricity storage. “This research is immensely important to the further development and use of photovoltaic systems. It’s the only way we can capture electricity generated in off-peak hours and maintain a stable power grid,” explains the Minister for Economic Affairs.

Georg Schmid, chairman of the CSU group in the Bavarian State Parliament, adds: “Considering the heavy fluctuation in production times with the sun and wind, the energy transition in Germany will only be a success if we make progress in storage technology. We can only achieve this with extraordinary determination and solid partners. VARTA is exactly the kind of strong partner we need. That’s why this collaboration is of great benefit to the supply of energy for Bavaria and Germany. I wish to thank TU München’s President, Prof. Wolfgang Herrmann, who has played a major role in this project coming to fruition.”

TUM President Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Herrmann emphasises: “Without electrical battery systems with a high level of energy density that are also safe to handle and remain stable over the long term, Germany’s energy transition is not going to happen. That’s why TUM is dedicated to this research, which, while technically challenging, is instrumental to society.” Electrical energy storage represents the core of the long-term project TUM●Energy, linking electro-mobility and renewable energies.

This landmark project complements the on-going activities of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and the Zentrum für angewandte Energieforschung Bayern (ZAE, Bavarian Centre for Applied Energy Research) in Garching. Varta Microbattery GmbH will be an important partner for the initiative with its newly founded subsidiary VARTA Micro Storage GmbH in Nördlingen. Herbert Schein, Managing Director of VARTA Microbattery GmbH, states: “VARTA’s know-how is top-notch on an international scale, which means we are capable of making a vital contribution to the top research being performed at TUM and to studying new systems for decentralised energy storage. In addition to researching, we will also be producing and marketing such systems at our subsidiary VARTA Micro Storage.”

Source: StMWIVT

Pressnumber: 361/12