Click on a bar below to reveal the theme description.
Theme 1: Discovery and design towards higher performing, lower cost batteries
From automotive to grid to aero the cost and performance requirements of batteries that would allow their commercial take up differ markedly for different sectors. One size does not fit all. This session will outline the importance of understanding performance requirements for specific applications and will highlight how outputs from Faraday Institution programmes are advancing research towards step-changes in performance and cost beyond the next generation of lithium ion and other chemistries. Examples may include advances to materials, manufacturing methods, pack design or battery management systems.
CHAIR AND SPEAKERS
Prof. Mauro Pasta
Eleanor Bayton
Prof. Lee Johnson
Dr Chun (Ann) Huang
Dr Alastair Hales
Dr Thomas Heenan
Theme 2: Data – challenges and opportunities
The battery research and manufacturing communities generate huge quantities of data. Within the Faraday Institution datasets include electrochemical performance of coin cells in the lab or of batteries at microgrid test sites in Nigeria, materials imaging data, and data to support passports for the second use of batteries or to inform EV warranty provision. In industry, extensive datasets are generated at battery manufacturing lines.
There is a growing need to tackle the thorny issues of standardisation of test protocols, common standards for data sharing, clarification of meta data and to develop a collective approach to handling of data heterogeneity. While the benefits of open access to data and associated analysis and modelling tools are significant, it brings challenges including around confidentiality, particularly when working with industry. Overcoming these challenges will facilitate the use of machine learning and AI to address some of the most complex problems around, for example, lifetime analysis and will improve quality and accelerate progress in many other areas of battery research and innovation. These topical themes will be explored in this session, which will both highlight positive steps taken within Faraday Institution programmes to date and discuss future opportunities for progress.
CHAIR AND SPEAKERS
Prof. David Howey
Dr Tal Sholklapper
Dr Mona Faraji Niri
Dr Peter Bugryniec
Dr Edward Brightman
Theme 3: Towards sustainable batteries
The focus for batteries manufactured today has been on cost and performance, but the sustainability credentials of the battery life cycle will come under increasing scrutiny by stakeholders in multiple industry sectors. Manufacturers that have policies that address resource depletion, carbon dioxide emissions from battery manufacture, and end of life disposal will increasingly have a competitive advantage.
Faraday Institution researchers are exploring ways to design batteries for recycling and to reuse and recycle batteries economically at the end of their first life. Multidisciplinary expertise is being harnessed in the quest towards a sustainable battery supply chain. Materials scientists are investigating the suitability of earth abundant materials; manufacturers are seeking low energy and resource efficient techniques; scientists and engineers are exploring ways to prolong the battery’s usable life and systems engineers are using holistic approaches to optimise global supply chains. This session will feature a range of these highlights from the Faraday Institution research portfolio.
CHAIR AND SPEAKERS
Prof. Emma Kendrick
Tony Harper
Isobel Sheldon OBE
Prof. Magdalena Titirici
Dr Jacqueline Edge
Dr Robert Sommerville
Dr Dominika Gastol
Theme 4: Safety and performance from sensing, prediction and characterisation
The UK is well placed with expertise in the field of sensing, prediction and characterisation techniques for the analysis of energy storage materials and systems. Across the Faraday Institution, researchers are developing novel tools and techniques, including synchrotron-based experiments, and applying techniques from other fields to analyse batteries and their components. This is accelerating battery research that will ultimately improve the performance, sustainability and safety of batteries for a range of applications. This session will explore the operando and in-situ characterisation techniques and highlight the software, simulation and modelling toolsets being developed as part of our research programmes. Examples could include use of new and implanted sensors, in operando diagnostics and virtual techniques for visualising battery components.
CHAIR AND SPEAKERS
Dr Peter Baker
Dr Hollie Patten
Dr Christoph Schnedermann
Prof. Nuria Garcia-Araez
Dr Yige Sun
Prof. Peter Kruger
Conference programme
Dr James Robinson, Chair of the Faraday Institution Early Career Researcher Committee, will set the scene for the early career researcher day.
Practical guidance on how to increase researcher identity and open the door to career opportunities. Create a professional image, harness the power of LinkedIn, and grow your network.
Hear from researchers working in industry about the career opportunities that exist in the UK battery technology sector.
Videos to be released as they become available.
'A Net Zero energy system.' Baroness Brown will share her insight on the energy transition - for transport, homes, industry, infrastructure, commerce, and defence - highlighting the importance and ubiquity of batteries. Chaired by Prof. Pam Thomas, Faraday Institution.
'Energy storage is key to attainment of fossil-free energy'. Chaired by Prof. Louis Piper, University of Warwick
DISCOVERY AND DESIGN TOWARDS HIGHER PERFORMING, LOWER COST BATTERIES
Join this session to hear the latest updates on the Faraday Institution’s EDI work and from expert Jayne Little (CEO of Skills4) as she outlines three ways we can all become a better inclusion ally.
SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE FROM SENSING, PREDICTION AND CHARACTERISATION
Hear from the Faraday Institution policy team on battery technology market sizes and dynamics and our approach to assess early-stage commercialisation potential.
'The Battery: Still the Great Unknown.' Chaired by Prof. Colin Herron CBE Managing Director, Zero Carbon Futures, and Faraday Institution North East.
Poster Presenters
Around 50 PhD Researchers and Faraday Institution Research Fellows and 50 undergraduate interns are presenting posters at the conference. Delegates will be able to explore the depth and breadth of FI research programmes by engaging with this content from the beginning of November.
