Advanced Materials for Energy Applications: from the laboratory to the marketplace

The development and implementation of advanced materials play a crucial role in addressing global energy challenges. These materials are key to improving the efficiency, cost-effectiveness and environmental sustainability of energy technologies.

In February 2024, the European Commission issued a communication on Advanced Materials for Industrial Leadership, outlining a holistic European strategy to ensure industrial leadership in Advanced Materials as a key enabling technology.
In the context of the “Coordinated Plan on Advanced Materials,” the possibility of launching an IPCEI (Important Project of Common European Interest) on Advanced Materials is mentioned, with the aim of obtaining more funding for the first industrial deployment of Research and Innovation (R&I) results through public and private investment.

In addition, Advanced Materials are among the ten critical technology areas identified by the EU to ensure economic security. These materials are also in line with the ambitious goals of the European Green Deal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They facilitate the development of new clean energy technologies as outlined in the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA) and have the potential to replace some critical raw materials (CRMs), contributing to the goals of the Critical Raw Materials Act.
The session will provide a comprehensive overview of key areas where advanced materials are having a significant impact and assess their readiness for market adoption.

The focus will be on:

Energy Storage in Batteries:

• Cathode Materials, Anode Materials, Solid State Electrolytes: What are the key pathways for advancement and commercialization?

Perovskite Solar Cells:

• Market Readiness and Lead-Free Compositions: How close are we to large-scale market adoption and what are the challenges in developing lead-free alternatives?

Fuel Cells:

• Proton Conducting Membranes and Platinum Catalysts for PEMFCs: What progress has been made in improving these components?
• New Electrolytic Materials for SOFCs: Where are we in the development and implementation of advanced electrolytic materials?