ATENA+

Energy storage, Sodium ion battery, Post lithium technology

Characteristics

ATENA+ aims to demonstrate at pre-industrial scale a new generation of safe, sustainable, high-performance, cost-effective and fully Made-in-Europe Sodium-Ion Battery (SIB) technology. The project will manufacture modules up to 80 Ah and >2.5 kWh, representative of BESS applications, by: (i) optimizing advanced materials, including stable Co-free layered oxides with minimal Ni, EU-sourced biobased hard carbon from sustainably managed forests, and tailored electrolytes with high ionic conductivity and electrochemical stability; (ii) developing environmentally friendly processes for high-performance electrode production; (iii) enhancing cell and module design for improved safety, reparability and low maintenance; and (iv) integrating an advanced BMS with Battery Passport features and optimized SoC management.

Result to be enhanced

The project includes chemistry refinement and enhanced component processing, developing high-performance materials for anodes, cathodes and electrolytes, and optimizing processes to ensure quality and scalability. Pre-industrial cell and module prototypes will be manufactured and validated through pilot lines and testing under realistic conditions. Technology validation will rely on digital twins and simulation models to optimize processes and assess industrial upscaling. An ESTEA framework will cover LCA, social and supply chain analyses, and techno-economic modeling. Activities will be supported by a dedicated DEC strategy and strong engagement with stakeholders and EU battery initiatives.

Why is it important?

ATENA+ is redefining what is possible in sustainable energy storage. From chemistry refinement to virtual upscaling and techno-economic assessments, every step of our work is designed to deliver safe, efficient, and scalable sodium-ion

Project and Acronym: ATENA+
Call for applications:  Horizon Europe
Innovation Cluster to contact:  CLEVER
Technologies used: Technologies in battery materials, cell design, manufacturing and recycling; new battery technologies for SIB manufacturing
Lead Company: FUNDACION CIDETEC
graziano@studiolce.it | www.lcengineering.it

Collaborative companies: SAFT (SAFT), TOPSOE BATTERY MATERIALS A/S (TOPSOE), STORA ENSO OYJ (STORA), E-LYTE INNOVATIONS GMBH (E-LYTE), IBERDROLA RENOVABLES ENERGIA SA (IRE), ZENTRUM FUR SONNENENERGIE- UND WASSERSTOFF-FORSCHUNG BADENWURTTEMBERG (ZSW), RISE RESEARCH INSTITUTES OF SWEDEN AB (RISE), VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK N.V. (VITO), LIFE CYCLE ENGINEERING SPA (LCE), FONDAZIONE ICONS (ICONS), ENGREEN SRL (ENGREEN)