Program 2018/2019

Chemical storage of energy

Lecturer: Didier Dalmazzone

Chemical storage of energy

The transition toward low carbon economy will require an intensive use of renewable energies, as well as an optimization of the efficacy of energy usage in industry, household and transportations. To comply with those objectives, it is necessary to develop energy storage media that will have to meet strong expectations in terms of efficiency, versatility, transportability, reversibility etc. The chemical storage of energy is particularly well suited to reach the goal: on one side, electric batteries and fuel cells will soon offer competitive solutions for the replacement of internal combustion engines by electrical motors in terrestrial and marine vehicles; on the other side the conversion of biomass could provide new synthetic fuels for the propulsion of aircrafts and rockets. In addition, the chemical storage of energy will take a decisive part in the development of smart grids, by facilitating the match between the intermittent production by renewable sources and the varying demand.

Main outcomes

The course is intended to give a comprehensive overview of the principles, scientific basis and technological development of modern and future energy storage media based on electric batteries, hydrogen fuel cells, power-to-gas conversion, and synthetic fuels and propellants. After taking the course, the students:

• will have developed their awareness of the technological and economic issues to overcome the energy transition challenges;
• will have acquired a theoretical knowledge of the various modes of chemical storage of energy;
• should be able to perform an efficiency assessment of various elements of the energy conversion and storage chain.

Pre-requisite: basic knowledge in chemistry and thermodynamics is preferable

 Content of the course: 9 sessions (2h course + 2h training)

• Introduction (4 hours):
  • history and perspectives of energy storage,
  • the "peak shaving" problem,
  • storage and smart grids
• Batteries (8 hours):
  • fundamentals,
  • technologies,
  • industrial developments
• Hydrogen (12 hours):
  • introduction,
  • production,
  • storage and distribution networks,
  • conversion to energy (combustion, fuel cells)
• Power to gas (4 hours):
  • principles and developments
• Energetic materials of the future (8 hours):
  • basics of thermochemical conversion of biomass,
  • synthetic fuels and propellants for air and space propulsion,
  • combustion, safety and environmental issues.

Langue du cours : Anglais

Credits ECTS : 4