Kräftiger Schub für die Ariane 5: Vom Raumfahrtzentrum Guyana startete am 30. Juli 2021 zum 110. Mal eine Ariane 5 ins All. Die Rakete war mit Teilen von GF Casting Solutions ausgerüstet.
How GF plans to conquer the battery market
Environmentally friendly production processes are necessary for manufacturing climate-friendly electric cars. This is especially true when it comes to battery production. The products and solutions from GF Piping Systems can contribute greatly to this. Will this be a new giga sales market for the division?
Batteries are of huge importance for the energy and transport transition. The move away from fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas is leading to greater demand for electricity from renewable sources. This means that electricity storage systems are necessary to ensure the availability of electricity everywhere and at all times, even when the wind is not blowing or the sun not shining. The International Energy Agency estimates that, by 2040, close to 10’000 gigawatt hours of batteries and other forms of energy storage will be needed worldwide – 50 times more than is available today.
© privatMarthinus Venter
Position: Senior Business Development Manager Battery Production
Division: GF Piping Systems
Location: Schaffhausen (Switzerland)
Joined GF in: 2021
Modern production sites for lithium-ion batteries – the battery type used in electric cars – are being built around the world to meet this demand, which has soared in the last two years due to the high demand for electric cars. These facilities are referred to as gigafactories, testament to the sheer scale of their construction. GF Piping Systems is taking an important role in equipping such gigafactories, as the ambient air in the production halls must meet special requirements when producing lithium-ion batteries. It is only possible to manufacture high-quality cells in a safe manner when the humidity is maintained at a very low level. GF Piping Systems has the right product to ensure the necessary quality of the ambient air: COOL-FIT piping systems.
© Picture AllianceA highly competitive market
Marthinus Venter is Senior Business Development Manager at GF Piping Systems in Schaffhausen ( Switzerland), responsibile for the booming market in lithium-ion batteries. “The electric car battery segment is one of the fastest growing markets in Europe, and probably worldwide,” he says. Global sales of electric cars reached 6.6 million in 2021, more than double the market share in 2020. The vast majority of lithium-ion batteries are currently produced in Asia, but Europe is catching up, with more than 30 new gigafactories planned. The EU Commission is accelerating the development of competitive battery cell production capacity in the EU with funding for R&D and production sites.
© Picture AllianceSmall, compact, high performance
Lithium-ion batteries have the highest energy density compared to other technologies. They can store the most energy per kilogram of battery, making them the top choice for use in electric cars.
Valuable geographic proximity
Both the type and the quantity of energy consumed in battery production are crucial for the carbon footprint of the batteries. For this reason, locations in the EU that produce with electricity from renewable energies are gaining in importance. Energy efficiency also plays a vital role. It is here that the performance of COOLFIT impresses. Due to their low thermal conductivity, the plastic pipes are already 30 percent more energy-efficient than comparable pipes made of copper, iron or steel.
© BMW PR“The dehumidification process accounts for more than 40 percent of energy consumption during the production of lithium-ion batteries. Cooling systems are necessary to dehumidify the air. For this reason, gigafactory operators place great importance on the efficiency of the cooling system,” says Venter. GF Piping Systems produces COOL-FIT with robust pre-insulation, meaning that battery producers can keep their energy consumption low.
A booming market
The future looks very promising for batteries, rechargeable batteries, and energy storage systems. Most of them still come from Asia, but Europe is catching up. Factories are being built in many regions.
© GF PREuropean gigafactories
Battery plants in Europe are expected to meet demand locally by 2025. To do so, many new gigafactories will be built and supported by new precursor factories, active cathode production facilities, lithium refineries and battery recycling plants – creating a new high-potential value chain in which GF can participate.
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The International Energy Agency estimates that, by 2040, close to 10’000 gigawatt hours of batteries will be needed – 50 times more than is available today.
A market for the future
Marthinus Venter and his team plan to use COOL-FIT as a door-opener to the highly competitive European battery market. The market was extensively analyzed to find out who are the potential customers and to understand their needs.
The solution from GF has already convinced two globally successful companies: CATL, the world’s largest manufacturer of batteries for electric cars, and Northvolt from Sweden. COOL-FIT is already being used by both of these companies.