KONSENSE Conference at THI

The KONSENSE and SAFIR team at the conference: (from left) Christoph Nebl (Technical Director Safe Electric Mobility), Susanne Lott (Research Assistant), Prof. Hans-Georg Schweiger (Research Professor Safe Electric Mobility and Head of the Technology Field Safe Electric Mobility, CARISSMA), Sonja Kupfer (Research Assistant) and Sabine Kapfhamer (Programme Coordinator SAFIR). Source: THI 

The conference KONSENSE was held as part of the project SENSE BAY (Secure Energy Storage Bavaria) run by THI, which receives EU structural funding. How can fire be prevented from spreading in a battery system? How high is the risk potential in the event of a crash? These and other questions were discussed by the approximately 70 participants, among whom there was an equal balance between industry, science and administration. The discussion followed on from lectures on topics such as “Safety aspects in cell packages with bipolar electrodes” and “Re-use of lithium-ion batteries from traction use of unknown background”.

SENSE BAY director Prof. Hans-Georg Schweiger also pointed out that consideration of batteries over the entire project lifecycle was a crucial factor, however. This research work is being carried out as part of the BMBF-funded SAFIR network project, involving companies based in the region.

“Our aim is to establish intelligent links between various projects along the innovation chain – not least in response to the increasing complexity throughout the lifecycle of the battery as a whole,” says Prof. Schweiger.

The organisers were particularly pleased to see that participants themselves called for another KONSENSE conference, which would be yet another important step along the way to regional and – in the medium term – nationwide networking. The foundations for this were laid in February last year, when THI received EUR 500,000 from the European Regional Development Fund for the establishment of SENSE BAY.