• 057508 - ELECTROCHEMICAL ENERGY STORAGE: FROM THE ENERGY TRANSITION TO THE NEW REGULATION - MODULO 1

The objective of the class is to raise awareness about the current changes in terms of energy production and uses due to pollution, raising costs of fossil fuels and other raw materials and their depletion as well as the resulting EU policies. This is inducing rapid societal and economical changes that bring, at the same time, challenges and opportunities for the next generations of engineers. Starting from the current situation in terms of energy use and its recent evolution, to finally reach the ideal of a circular economy, many issues need to be overcome. Green electricity is not easily storable and thus, electrochemical energy storage and conversion is a necessary part of the equation.

DD1: knowledge and understanding

Lectures and tutoring sessions will allow students to:
- Learn the problematics of energy consumption vs. production of goods, quality of life and pollution.
- Learn the approaches proposed to lower emissions and the challenges that the energy transition brings.
- Learn what is the place of electrochemical energy storage in the energy transition and thevalue chain of batteries from mining to recycling.
- Learn the EoL approaches to batteries and accumulators.
- Learn the fundamentals of Life Cycle Thinking as applied to the field of energy storage.

DD2: ability to apply knowledge and understanding

Students that successfully pass the exam:
- Are able to assess the ‘sustainability’ of energy production considering the whole value chain.
- Are aware of the technical and societal challenges that need to be addressed to significantly lower emissions.
- Know the directions in terms of development and investment in the energy sector (production and storage) pursued by EU policies.
- Know the different scale of energy storage needed and the position of electrochemical energy storage in the mix.
- Are able to understand technical texts about battery policies and their sustainable management.

New regulation and sustainability of electrochemical energy storage in the energy transition (2 CFU)

1. EU regulatory framework for batteries and accumulators

--> The EU battery and accumulators directive (2006/66/EC): primary and secondary legislation
--> Framework of the new EU battery regulation: EU Grean Deal, Circular Economy Action
--> Plan, Proposal for a new regulation on batteries and waste batteries

2. End-of-Life of batteries

--> EU approach to EoL: Circular Footprint Formula (CFF)
--> Recycling and reuse of waste batteries: technologies and market perspectives
--> Recycled content, primary and secondary raw materials

3. Life Cycle Thinking

--> Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules for batteries
--> Carbon Footprint of batteries and their role in the decarbonisation
--> Life Cycle Assessment of Batteries: state-of-the-art

No prerequisites required.

Report on a specific topic to be submitted before the exam and presentation with the support of electronic media during the oral examination.