Manchester helps ignite energy revolution

24 Jan 2018

Faraday Institution announces £42 million for Energy Storage Research

The University is helping to ignite a UK energy revolution as part of four projects that have won Government funding for battery research to address challenges faced by industry.

The Faraday Institution, which aims to make the UK the world leader for battery technology research, has announced £42 million funding, in part through government’s £246 million investment in battery technology as part of the Industrial Strategy.

Our University is working with one of four UK-based consortia to conduct application-inspired research aimed at overcoming battery challenges to accelerate the electric vehicle (EV) revolution.

The project, led by the University of Cambridge with nine other university and 10 industry partners, will look at extending battery life.

It will examine how environmental and internal battery stresses (such as high temperatures, charging and discharging rates) damage electric vehicle (EV) batteries over time. Results will include the optimization of battery materials and cells to extend battery life (and hence EV range), reduce battery costs, and enhance battery safety.

The other three projects will look at battery system modelling, recycling and reuse, and next generation solid state batteries.

If successful, this research will put the UK on the map as being at the forefront of battery technology worldwide. It has the potential to radically increase the speed with which we are able to make the move to electric vehicles, as well as the speed with which we can decarbonize our energy supply, with obvious benefits to the environment.

Business Minister Richard Harrington said, “With 200,000 electric vehicles set to be on UK roads by the end of 2018 and worldwide sales growing by 45 per cent in 2016, investment in car batteries is a massive opportunity for Britain and one that is estimated to be worth £5 billion by 2025.

“Through our flagship Industrial Strategy and its Future of Mobility and Clean Growth Grand Challenges, we are committed to making Britain the ‘go-to’ destination for the development and deployment of this game-changing technology.

“Government investment, through the Faraday Institution, in the projects announced today will deliver valuable research that will help us seize the economic opportunities presented by battery technology and our transition to a low-carbon economy.”