Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPAThe future of mobility and energy provision will be defined by innovative production technologies. Discover more about the challenges in battery production and the opportunities offered by hydrogen technology, and find your own inspiration.
Battery and hydrogen
Center for Digitalized Battery Cell Manufacturing
At the Center for Digitalized Battery Cell Manufacturing (ZDB), our mission is to create a sustainable and forward-looking battery value chain. With comprehensive expertise in factory planning, process development, quality management and the production of round cells, we generate technological advances and competitive advantages for our customers. In doing so, we take an integrated approach that also includes the end of the battery’s life cycle, thereby promoting a sustainable circular economy. Our unique selling point is our consistent digitalization throughout the entire value chain.
Services and expertise
Our services range from consulting through to research and development projects in the following fields:
Planning — factory and energy system planning
Take advantage of our many years of experience in flexible factory planning and in the needs-based design of cleanroom, clean zone and drying room technology for battery production. We can provide you with comprehensive support when planning production systems, from rough planning to detailed planning and implementation. We will also advise you on the selection and implementation of energy-efficient systems for process and factory infrastructure. And to optimize your production processes, we will develop automated assembly and disassembly solutions for battery systems.
Cell manufacturing — production of custom cylindrical cells prototypes
You can benefit from our comprehensive cylindrical cell manufacturing infrastructure and our wealth of product and process expertise. We manufacture cylindrical cells according to your individual specifications and offer benchmarks for your process and product innovations in comparison with the current state of the art. In addition, we can provide comprehensive advice with regard to the latest, future-oriented innovations in the series production of cylindrical battery cells.
Digitalization — IT architectures, modeling and service development
We provide you with support when integrating MES and IT architectures in your production process and offer our expertise in the fields of digital process connection, data capture and digital quality management. You can also take advantage of our innovative traceability solutions for cell manufacturing and our digital added-value services in order to establish direct information usage and feedback in your processes. Discover how you can optimize your production processes through digitalization:
Reduction of rejects and optimization of battery cell quality
End of life — battery disassembly and reuse
You can benefit from our expertise in the safe handling of end-of-life batteries: We can advise you on the suitable circular strategy for batteries (repair, reuse, repurpose, remanufacturing, recycling) and the associated disassembly sequence and depth. Use our innovative tools, automation solutions and analytics for the disassembly of battery packs to the material level in order to close the raw material loop for your batteries.
Qualification — modular and needs-based offer for further development
We will be delighted to share our expertise in battery ecosystems with you, including custom training and qualification programs. Experience the technical expertise that we have to offer in guided tours, demonstrations and practical hands-on training. Our offer ranges from further training and workshops on process and technology development to the identification of commercial potential in the battery ecosystem.
Hydrogen
Green hydrogen is the key to the energy transition in the 21st century. As a medium for carrying and storing energy, it is an essential component in the decarbonization of industry and mobility. When it comes to scaling its commercial use, technological advances are crucial. This is where Fraunhofer IPA is setting standards, from the cost-effective production of H2 components and the efficiency increases achieved through digitalization, AI and quantum computing, right through to the industrial use of hydrogen as an energy carrier and the development of solutions to generate and use H2 derivatives. We will work with you to drive the energy transition and shape the energy supply of the future. Make the most of our expertise so that we can design future-proof and competitive production processes together.
Services and expertise
Our services range from consulting through to research and development projects in the following fields:
Cost-effective manufacturing of H2 components
The cost-effective and scalable production of hydrogen technologies is crucial to the success of the energy transition. Fraunhofer IPA focuses on scaling the manufacturing technology and reducing the cost of processes such as PEM, AEL, SOC and AEM so that electrolyzers and fuel cells are made more competitive. Our expertise ranges from innovative production methods like electroplating and inkjet printing to the production of key components, such as bipolar plates (BPP) and membrane electrode assemblies (MEA).
With our experience in factory planning, automation and robotics, we develop flexible, future-proof production processes to increase your competitiveness. Our interdisciplinary expertise from a range of research fields makes it possible to transfer the latest technological developments to the production of H2 components in a targeted way. We do this by applying innovative solutions to reduce the use of precious metals and implementing effective corrosion protection measures to reduce your production costs and increase sustainability.
Efficiency gains through digitalization, AI and quantum computing
Digitalization is the key to increasing efficiency in production. At Fraunhofer IPA, we use the latest technologies, such as digital twins, AI-supported rules and quantum computing, to optimize production processes for electrolyzers and fuel cells. Our solutions enable you to achieve significant increases in the efficiency of your systems and reduce operating costs.
We will support you in the selection and implementation of IT platforms, such as IoT, MES and ERP, to make new and existing production systems fit for the future. Through precise modeling of electrochemical processes, we extend the service life of fuel cells and electrolyzers, while our quantum computing approaches help to predict and avoid degradation processes with accuracy.
H2 as an energy carrier in industry
Hydrogen offers industry a tangible opportunity to replace fossil fuels with sustainable alternatives and drive the decarbonization process. At Fraunhofer IPA, we work with you to develop solutions that integrate hydrogen efficiently in your industrial processes, from the process heat supply to the substitution of natural gas in energy-intensive applications.
Our concepts for the seasonal storage of hydrogen will help you to use renewable energy more efficiently while also guaranteeing security of supply. This establishes the conditions under which you can use hydrogen in your production process in a flexible and cost-effective way.
Components for generating and using H2 derivatives
Hydrogen derivatives, such as ammonia, methanol and synthetic fuels, are crucial to the storage and transport of energy. Fraunhofer IPA develops solutions for the cost-effective generation, storage and use of these H2 derivatives so that they can become established in industry as flexible energy carriers and sustainable raw materials.
Our scalable production processes and innovative technologies will help you to integrate H2 derivatives efficiently in your production processes, making an important contribution to the decarbonization of your value chain.