Latest Developments in Energy Storage and Conversion

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This session is hosted by the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria

Host: Dr Christina Toigo, Professor in Hydrogen Technology and Energy Storage Systems, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria

Biography: Dr Toigo received her Masters degree in polymer chemistry from the Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria and a PhD in electrochemistry from Alma Mater Studiorum – Universitá di Bologna, Italy. She has been in the field of electrochemistry and battery technology for more than 9 years in both industry and research, working on lithium- and sodium-ion batteries and combined systems for energy storage and hydrogen generation. She currently holds a professorship in “Hydrogen Technology and Energy Storage Systems” at University of Applied Sciences Wels, Austria, where she is focusing on sustainable materials, integration of complex energy systems and innovative approaches within this field. In her lectures, she shares real-world applications and practical insights, making complex concepts easily comprehensible.

https://pure.fh-ooe.at/en/persons/christina-toigo

Speakers:

Name: Dr Ahmed Darwish Badawy, Assistant Professor in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, University of Bradford

Title: Challenges facing EV transition: Batteries, Power Grid, and Charging infrastructure.

Abstract: The number of electric vehicles on the roads is increasing dramatically which adds a burden on the electricity grid and requires expanding the charging infrastructure. In 2024, there is still uncertainty and different opinions about the significance of this effect on the grid and if EVs can collapse it. There is also a concern about the availability of battery cells and the effect of finding new sources of Lithium and cobalt on the future of EVs and transportation in general. Also, the development of EVs’ charging infrastructure is crucial as the ability to conveniently charge an EV from home is a top concern for many EV owners.

Biography: Ahmed Darwish Badawy received B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in electrical engineering from the Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University, Egypt, in 2008 and 2012, respectively, and a Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the Electric and Electronic Engineering Department, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, U.K., in 2016. From 2009 to 2012, he was a Research Assistant at Texas A&M University at Qatar. In 2015, he was a Postdoctoral Research Associate with the PEDEC Group, University of Strathclyde, where he carried out several projects in Wind and Solar energy systems. He joined Lancaster University as a Lecturer in electrical engineering in 2018 where his research interests include dc–dc converters, multilevel converters, electric machines, digital control of power electronic systems, energy conversion, renewable energy, and electric vehicles. Ahmed joined University of Bradford as an Assistant Professor in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in 2024 with the Faculty of Engineering and Digital Technologies. He is also a Visiting Researcher at the School of Engineering, Lancaster University.

https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=W2LcUVEAAAAJ&hl=en

Name: Dr. Patcharawat Charoen-amornkitt, Dept of Mechanical Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology, Thonburi

Title: Electroanalytical Methods for Electrochemical Device Electrode Characterization.

Abstract: Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion Systems (ESC) play a crucial role in the global transition towards a renewable energy society, addressing a significant hurdle posed by the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources. While renewable sources can efficiently generate electricity, their production and utilization face challenges in maintaining continuous availability. To overcome this obstacle, the development of efficient ESC systems is imperative to ensure a consistent supply and utilization of electricity. Despite their potential, widely used devices such as vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs), lithium-ion batteries (LiBs), polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs), and proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs) encounter technological and cost-related barriers hindering widespread commercial deployment. The primary challenges are centered around the electrodes, where crucial electrochemical reactions take place. To drive broad commercial adoption, enhancing cell performance is crucial for reducing material costs. Given the pivotal role of electrodes in these devices, improving electrode performance requires a direct approach—altering electrodes to minimize irreversible losses. Numerous studies have explored enhancing the performance of electrochemical devices through electrode modification. However, the precise contributions of these treatments and a comprehensive understanding of the intricate mechanisms influencing electrode performance and degradation remain unclear. To characterize such effects, electroanalytical techniques like cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy have been commonly employed to gain insights into ESC performance and degradation. However, their application and physical interpretation in a complex system involving porous electrodes remain less consolidated. Our research group is at the forefront of modeling cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy responses of electrodes in ESC systems. These models enable physical interpretation, leading to insights into electrode modification, as well as state-of-charge and state-of-health monitoring of batteries. This knowledge is crucial for advancing the performance of electrochemical energy devices and represents a significant step towards a cleaner energy society.

Biography: Patcharawat Charoen-amornkitt holds B.Eng. and M.Eng. degrees from Thai-Nichi Institute of Technology, and a Ph.D. from Osaka University under the supervision of Professor Shohji Tsushima, where he modeled voltammetric responses using a combined model of mass transport and equivalent circuit to include effects of non-faradaic current. His novel method helps provide insight into the effects of electrode modification on the performance of electrochemical devices consequently facilitating the development of renewable and sustainable energy technologies. Patcharawat’s research interests focus on experimental, numerical and theoretical studies of electrochemical and transport processes in energy conversion devices as seen in fuel cells and batteries. His interdisciplinary research covering heat and mass transfer, fluid dynamics, and applied mathematics leads to exploring the optimized structure of electrochemical devices to minimize irreversible energy losses. He is currently employed as a lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, where he shares his expertise and passion with students and contributes to the advancement of the field of mechanical engineering.

https://scholar.google.co.jp/citations?user=o3SE-W0AAAAJ&hl=en

Name: Dr Nejat Rahmanian, Associate Professor, Program Leader-Advanced MSc in Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Bradford

Title: Climate Change: Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Solutions

Abstract: Co2 transportation, storage and conversion

Biography: https://www.bradford.ac.uk/staff/nrahmanian/

Dr Nejat Rahmanian is an Associate Professor in Chemical and Petroleum Engineering.  He has been  MSc Program Leader for Advanced  Chemical and Petroleum Engineering since 07/2015.  He is a Chartered Engineer, a Chartered  Scientist and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=iuOeZqAAAAAJ&hl=en

Name: Professor Indrajit Shown, Professor, Department of Chemistry, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science (HITS)

Title: Harnessing Sustainable Green Hydrogen: Exploring Materials for Electrochemical Water Splitting

Biography: Prof. Indrajit Shown is an accomplished researcher in the field of chemistry, specializing in nanomaterials and catalysts for sustainable energy applications. After completing his Ph.D. in chemistry from The M. S. University of Vadodara in 2008, he gained valuable research experience as a post-doctoral fellow in Japan and later as a senior research scientist in Taiwan. With a strong background in the development of advanced green energy technologies, he established his independent research group at Amrita University.

In 2021, Prof. Shown joined Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science (HITS), Chennai, where his research group focuses on the synthesis and characterization of various catalytic nanomaterials for sustainable energy applications. Their research interests span across advanced green energy fields such as green hydrogen production via electrolysis, novel electrocatalysts for fuel cell applications, photocatalysis for CO2 conversion, and energy storage technologies including flexible supercapacitors and batteries.

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=eVoACZMAAAAJ&hl=en