Within the Cluster of Excellence for Post Lithium Storage (POLiS - www.postlithiumstorage.org/), scientists from Karlsruhe and Ulm are researching future batteries, which should be powerful, reliable, environmentally friendly and in general more sustainable. The overall objective of our Cluster is to build a fundamental understanding of a new generation of electrochemical energy storage systems and develop a platform for future stationary and mobile applications.

POLiS is targeting emerging systems based on, e.g., sodium-, magnesium-, or aluminum-ions. Such systems are called “post-Li” batteries and have the potential to store more energy, be safer, and provide a less costly, more sustainable option for mass applications.

An important focus at POLiS is on sustainability, which takes ecological, economic and social aspects into account. Within the research project, system analysts and TA experts support the cluster from the outset in considering ecological, economic and social aspects. For example, the recyclability of future material mixtures, the conditions of raw material extraction and the energy costs of the production processes have to be examined intensively. Prospective life cycle assessments are used for the analysis and evaluation of new battery systems. The economic and social implications are also analyzed regarding the whole life cycle. Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) can be used to identify the most promising materials or cell designs that can be recommended for further development steps from a sustainability perspective.