Furthering the development of a materials acceleration platform for sustainable batteries (combining AI, big data, autonomous synthesis robotics, high throughput testing) (Batteries Partnership)
HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
Basic Information
- Identifier
- HORIZON-CL5-2022-D2-01-03
- Programme
- Cross-sectoral solutions for the climate transition
- Programme Period
- 2021 - 2027
- Status
- Closed (31094503)
- Opening Date
- April 28, 2022
- Deadline
- September 6, 2022
- Deadline Model
- single-stage
- Budget
- €3,000,000
- Keywords
- Materials engineeringDigital AgendaElectrical engineering, Electronic engineering, InCo-programmed European PartnershipsArtificial IntelligenceBIG MAPacceleration platformfuture emerging technologiesbatteriesmaterials
Description
Batteries have complex and dynamic processes taking place in and between materials and at the interfaces/interphases within a battery cell. For each new battery chemistry explored, new challenges in understanding these processes are revealed. To accelerate the finding of new material’s and their combinations for both existing and future battery chemistries the iterative and fragmented trial and error approach used today needs to be replaced since it is slow and insufficient.
To accelerate the discovery of battery interfaces, materials and new sustainable concepts with high energy and/or power performance there is a need to develop a fully autonomous and chemistry neutral Materials Acceleration Platform (MAP) for battery materials and interfaces. This is a key and long-term challenge for European battery community. The aim is to integrate advanced multi-scale computational modelling, materials synthesis, characterisation and testing to perform closed-loop autonomous materials findings and interphase engineering that would accelerate by at least a factor of five the discovery of new battery chemistries with ultra-high performances.
Building upon the shared data infrastructure, standards and protocols developed in the BATTERY 2030+ initiative, this call topic addresses the need of increasing the level of autonomy in the MAP-based discovery and development process. The proposal should also cover the contribution and collaboration to the BATTERY 2030+ large scale initiative.
Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes
- Develop new tools and methods for significantly accelerating the development and optimisation of battery materials and interfaces, in order to increase the competitiveness of the battery material and cell industry in Europe.
- Demonstrate a fully autonomous battery-MAP capable of integrating computational modelling, materials synthesis and characterisation of both Li-ion and beyond Li-ion chemistries.
- Scale-bridging, multi-scale battery interface models capable of integrating data from embedded sensors in the discovery and prediction process, e.g. to orchestrate proactive self-healing.
- Community wide state-of-the-art collaborative environment to access data and utilise automated workflows for integrated simulations and experiments on heterogeneous sites, e.g., exploiting European HPC architectures and Large-scale facilities in collaboration with LENS and LEAPS.
- Demonstrate a robotic system that is capable of material synthesis for inorganic, organic or hybrid compounds following standard synthesis routes via automated characterisation of intermediate and final products and autonomous decision-making.
- Deploy predictive hybrid physics- and data-driven models for the spatio-temporal evolution of battery interfaces and demonstrate inverse design of a battery material/interface.
- Infrastructure tools for secure remote data access, data analysis and predictive modelling: Develop a FAIR[1] data infrastructure for raw and curated experimental and modelling data, which can be accessed remotely and securely by relevant stakeholders, including industry. Develop the software infrastructure required to operate this platform, also with regard to future reproducibility and further exploitation of the results of the research activities. The software should provide specific access right and allow remote data access, complemented by distributed workflows using software-agnostic workflow engines that provide rapid-prototyping. Inverse materials design using hybrid physics- and data-driven battery interface genome models should also be demonstrated.
- Automated high throughput characterisation and integrated experimental and computational workflows: High throughput, multimodal operando experimental techniques using standardised battery cells and established protocols should be optimised to perform effective screening of new materials and on-line diagnosis of realistic devices. A central objective is to establish, structure, operate and dynamically refine such facility platform to harmonise, mutualise and optimise the global demand for battery characterisation. This includes automated experimental and computational workflows and modules for data acquisition and multimodal/multiscale analysis. Particular attention should be paid to battery interfaces and direct observation of interfaces under dynamic conditions, which are key to improve the performances and the lifetime of batteries.
- Autonomous synthesis robotics and orchestration software: The transition from low/no automated robotics for the synthesis of battery materials requires several R&I steps towards fully autonomous systems. Within the scope of this proposed call are partially autonomous systems following standard synthesis routes for inorganic and organic battery materials, especially also multi-step and high-temperature synthesis, that so far are challenging to automate for high throughput. AI-based orchestration and optimisation software modules and packages specifically targeting battery materials and interfaces are also central to the scope.
- Inverse design and AI-assisted scale-bridging models for multiple time- and length-scale processes: To develop scale-bridging models correctly describing the multiple mechanisms occurring at atomistic scale and the mesoscopic scale on the cell level. The new model approaches should be able to incorporate data from the advanced sensing in virtual design optimisation and battery control algorithms for SoX estimation. Sensitivity analysis and uncertainty quantification of the developed SoX models is also a requirement to assess the robustness of the developed models. These models should achieve a challenge based rational balance of accuracy and computational effort. They should accurately describe the actual state of the system, but also enable diagnosis and prediction, e.g., when self-healing procedures should be initiated. Multiscale Modelling approaches should be developed for the control of safety between BOL (Beginning Of Life) and EOL (End of Life) of a battery system by different uses and diagnosing the safety state of a battery system by innovative methods.
This topic implements the co-programmed European Partnership on ‘Towards a competitive European industrial battery value chain for stationary applications and e-mobility’.
Specific Topic Conditions:Activities are expected to achieve TRL 3-4 by the end of the project – see General Annex B.
Cross-cutting Priorities:Co-programmed European Partnerships
Digital Agenda
Artificial Intelligence
[1]FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable)
Destination & Scope
This Destination covers thematic areas which are cross-cutting by nature and can provide key solutions for climate, energy and mobility applications. In line with the scope of cluster 5 such areas are batteries, hydrogen, communities and cities, early-stage breakthrough technologies as well as citizen engagement. Although these areas are very distinct in terms of challenges, stakeholder communities and expected impacts, they have their cross-cutting nature as a unifying feature and are therefore grouped together under this Destination.
This Destination contributes to the following Strategic Plan’s Key Strategic Orientations (KSO):
- C: Making Europe the first digitally enabled circular, climate-neutral and sustainable economy through the transformation of its mobility, energy, construction and production systems;
- A: Promoting an open strategic autonomy[[‘Open strategic autonomy’ refers to the term ‘strategic autonomy while preserving an open economy’, as reflected in the conclusions of the European Council 1 – 2 October 2020.]] by leading the development of key digital, enabling and emerging technologies, sectors and value chains to accelerate and steer the digital and green transitions through human-centred technologies and innovations;
- D: Creating a more resilient, inclusive and democratic European society, prepared and responsive to threats and disasters, addressing inequalities and providing high-quality health care, and empowering all citizens to act in the green and digital transitions.
It covers the following impact areas:
- Industrial leadership in key and emerging technologies that work for people
- Affordable and clean energy
- Smart and sustainable transport
The expected impact, in line with the Strategic Plan, is to contribute to the “Clean and sustainable transition of the energy and transport sectors towards climate neutrality facilitated by innovative cross-cutting solutions”, notably through:
- Nurturing a world-class European research and innovation eco-system on batteries along the value chain based on sustainable pathways. It includes improvement of technological performance to increase application user attractiveness (in particular in terms of safety, cost, user convenience, fast charging and environmental footprint), in parallel supporting the creation of a competitive, circular, and sustainable European battery manufacturing value chain (more detailed information below).
- Increased efficiency of Europe’s cities’ and communities’ energy, resource use and mobility patterns and cities’ and communities’ overall sustainability, thereby improving their climate-resilience and attractiveness to businesses and citizens in a holistic fashion. This also includes improved air and water quality, resilience of energy supply, intelligent mobility services and logistics, liveability and accessibility of cities, public health, comfortable, affordable zero emissions housing as well as the exploitation of relevant European technologies and knowledge (more detailed information below).
- Facilitating the transformation to a climate neutral society, in line with the EU’s 2050 climate targets, through more effectively engaging and empowering citizens to participate in the transition, from planning to decision-making and implementation (more detailed information below).
- Nurturing the development of emerging technologies with high potential to enable zero-greenhouse gas and negative emissions in energy and transport (more detailed information below).
A competitive and sustainable European battery value chain
Batteries will enable the rollout of zero-emission mobility and renewable energy storage, contributing to the European Green Deal and supporting the UN SDGs by creating a vibrant, responsible and sustainable market. Besides climate neutrality, batteries also contribute to other UN SDGs directly and indirectly such as enabling of decentralized and off-grid energy solutions.
The strategic pathway is, on the one hand, for Europe to rapidly regain technological competitiveness in order to capture a significant market share of the new and fast growing rechargeable battery market, and, on the other hand, to invest in longer term research on future battery technologies to establish Europe's long term technological leadership and industrial competitiveness
The Partnership “Towards a competitive European industrial battery value chain for stationary applications and e-mobility”, to which all battery-related topics under this Destination will contribute, aims to establish world-leading sustainable and circular European battery value chain to drive transformation towards a carbon-neutral society.
The main impacts to be generated by topics targeting the battery value chain under this Destination are:
- Increased global competitiveness of the European battery ecosystem through generated knowledge and leading-edge technologies in battery materials, cell design, manufacturing and recycling;
- Accelerated growth of innovative, competitive and sustainable battery manufacturing industry in Europe;
- Accelerated roll out of electrified mobility through increased attractiveness for citizens and businesses, offering lower price, better performance and safety, reliable operation of e-vehicles. Increased grid flexibility, increased share of renewables integration and facilitated self-consumption and participation in energy markets by citizens and businesses;
- Increased overall sustainability and improved Life Cycle Assessment of each segment of the battery value chain. Developed and established innovative recycling network and technologies and in line with the March 2020 European Circular Economy Action Plan, accelerated roll-out of circular designs and holistic circular approach for funded innovations;
- Increased exploitation and reliability of batteries though demonstration of innovative use cases of battery integration in stationary energy storage and vehicles/vessels/aircrafts (in collaboration with other partnerships).
Communities and cities
This work programme contains only a few activities. The bulk of activities related to communities and cities will be introduced during 2021 as an update to the Horizon Europe work programme 2021, once the preparatory phase of the Horizon Europe Missions has been concluded.
Emerging breakthrough technologies and climate solutions
Although the contribution of a wide range of technologies to reach climate neutrality is already foreseeable, EU R&I programming should also leave room for emerging and break-through technologies with a high potential to achieve climate neutrality. These technologies can play a significant role in reaching the EU’s goal to become climate neutral by 2050.
Relevant topics supported under this Destination do not duplicate activities supported under Pillars I or III, but focus on emerging technologies that can enable the climate transition and follows at the same time a technology-neutral bottom up approach and the support of key technologies that are expected to support achieving climate neutrality. Research in this area is mostly technological in nature but should also where relevant be accompanied by assessments of environmental impact, social and economic impacts, and possible regulatory needs as well as activities to support the creation of value chains and to build up new ecosystems of stakeholders working on breakthrough technologies.
The main expected impacts to be generated by topics targeting breakthrough technologies and climate solutions under this Destination are:
- Emergence of unanticipated technologies enabling emerging zero-greenhouse gas and negative emissions in energy and transport;
- Development of high-risk/high return technologies to enable a transition to a net greenhouse gas neutral European economy;
Citizens and stakeholder engagement
The transition to climate-neutral economies and societies by 2050 is the defining challenge of this century. The challenge is not just technical: it calls for wide-ranging societal transformations and the adaptation of lifestyles and behaviours. Engaging citizens and stakeholders is therefore critical for the success of the European Green Deal, as is making greater recourse to the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH), alongside the Scientific, Technical, Engineering and Mathematical (STEM) disciplines.
The topics under this section do not stand alone but aim to complement and support the broader integration (“mainstreaming”) of citizen and stakeholder engagement as well as the social sciences and humanities (SSH) across the whole Horizon Europe programme map and particularly Cluster 5.
The main expected impacts to be generated by topics targeting citizen and stakeholder engagement under this Destination are:
- A better understanding of the societal implications of the climate transition, including its distributional repercussions;
- More effective policy interventions, co-created with target constituencies and building on high-quality policy advice;
- Greater societal support for transition policies and programs, based on greater and more consequential involvement of those most affected.
Eligibility & Conditions
General conditions
1. Admissibility conditions: described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System
2. Eligible countries: described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
3. Other eligibility conditions: described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion: described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes
5. Evaluation and award:
- Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes
- Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual
- Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement: described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes
6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants: described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes
Specific conditions
7. Specific conditions: described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme]
Documents
Call documents:
Standard application form — call-specific application form is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE RIA, IA)
Standard evaluation form — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
MGA
Additional documents:
HE Main Work Programme 2021–2022 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2021–2022 – 8. Climate, Energy and Mobility
HE Main Work Programme 2021–2022 – 13. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme and Rules for Participation Regulation 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Support & Resources
Online Manual is your guide on the procedures from proposal submission to managing your grant.
Horizon Europe Programme Guide contains the detailed guidance to the structure, budget and political priorities of Horizon Europe.
Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – find the answers to most frequently asked questions on submission of proposals, evaluation and grant management.
Research Enquiry Service – ask questions about any aspect of European research in general and the EU Research Framework Programmes in particular.
Enterprise Europe Network – contact your EEN national contact for advice to businesses with special focus on SMEs. The support includes guidance on the EU research funding.
IT Helpdesk – contact the Funding & Tenders Portal IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc.
European IPR Helpdesk assists you on intellectual property issues.
CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk – the European Standards Organisations advise you how to tackle standardisation in your project proposal.
The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment – consult the general principles and requirements specifying the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers, employers and funders of researchers.
Partner Search Services help you find a partner organisation for your proposal.
Latest Updates
No updates available.