For a chance to get to know better the work of the project, we are introducing to you a series of interviews with the HEROES project partners, who will provide an insight into their experiences and tasks within the project.
This interview takes place with Erik Schaltz, Associate Professor in the Department of Energy Technology in Aalborg University (Denmark).
What is the role of your organisation in the HEROES project? What about your role?
The main role of the Department of Energy at Aalborg University (AAU), Denmark, is basically to obtain a good understanding of the behaviour of the developed lithium-ion capacitor (LiC) cell of the HEROES project. Knowing the characteristics and features of the LiC cells is essential to be able to integrate the cells into the overall system. Our task is twofold: 1) To develop an electric and thermal model of the LiC cell, and 2) To develop state-of-charge, state-of-health, and state-of-power algorithms (in short: SoX algorithms) to be implemented in the lithium-ion capacitor management system.
I am the project manager from AAU side, and I am working closely together with my colleague Gautam Sethia who is working on the HEROES project in a postdoc position. My role is to coordinate with Gautam and the other partners of the HEROES project to make sure AAU delivers our tasks in due time.
How do you see the cooperation between the project partners?
I have only experienced a lot of openness and understanding of each other’s challenges. The project is very ambitious with a tight schedule, but I feel that everybody is trying to do their best to make this project a success.
What challenges have you met during the work with the HEROES project and how did you overcome them?
As mentioned before, the project is very ambitious with a tight time schedule, as new LiC cells are to be developed and integrated into an electric vehicle fast charging system for real-life demonstration in only three years. All partners rely on each other and delays of one partner can easily cause delays for the partners next in the chain. The solution to these challenges has been open communication among the project partners. In this relation, I would like to say thank you to the project coordinator of the HEROES project, Turi Kvame Lorentzen from Beyonder, for proactively addressing the challenges when they arrived.
What do you like more about HEROES?
I think it is very motivating that the HEROES project has such a clear goal (demonstration of a LiB/LiC hybrid energy storage system for fast charging of electric vehicles) and that this goal only can be achieved if all partners work together.
What is going to happen in the following months in your work?
Now we are performing extensive tests in the laboratory of the LiC cells to be able to develop the models and SoX algorithms. Our focus for the following months is therefore to collect and analyses data and to deliver our SoX algorithms in due time so we will not cause delays to the other partners.
What positive impact did the project activities have on your organisation?
We have been working with lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) for many years, but the lithium-ion capacitors (LiCs) are new to us. It is a great pleasure to have a chance to work with such a new type of energy storage device to expand our competencies.
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