First battery cell from FFB PreFab

An important milestone in the commissioning of the first research factory "FFB PreFab" (1st construction phase) was reached in Münster: The Fraunhofer Research Fab Battery Cell FFB has produced its first electrically functional lithium-ion battery cell. This is the first time that an end-to-end process chain has been realised using exclusively European plant technology, from electrode production to the charged cell.

FFT is involved in the development and delivery of cell forming equipment for PreFab. Forming is the final step in battery production, during which the cells are charged and discharged for the first time. This stabilizes the electrochemical structures and has a significant impact on cell quality, performance, and aging behavior. In addition to charging and discharging with special charging curves and under defined climatic conditions, extensive quality controls and tests are carried out during this process step. The final step is the storage of the cells, also under specific climatic conditions and over specified, longer periods of time.

Dorothee Bär, Federal Minister of Research, Technology and Space, said: "Only those who have mastered battery technology and can manufacture battery cells competitively will be able to hold their own in international competition. The battery is indispensable for climate-neutral mobility and energy generation. As a flagship measure of the High-Tech Agenda Germany, the Fraunhofer FFB is focussing on "Lab to Fab" - from science to industry. The first battery cell from the "FFB PreFab" therefore marks a decisive milestone for batteries "Made in Germany".

Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Mona Neubaur: "With the battery cell research production facility in Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia is showing that we are the location for state-of-the-art high-tech industry. Strong European battery production is key to economic success, technological independence and the transformation of our industry. Münster decisively strengthens our innovative power: research, development and industrial transfer interlock perfectly here - a project that will significantly advance Europe in the future field of battery technology."

Science Minister Ina Brandes: "A unique research facility for the battery cell production of the future is being created in Münster. Smart batteries are already part of people's everyday lives - as a key technology in energy supply, electromobility and smartphones, for example. With the FFB, we in North Rhine-Westphalia have the opportunity to close the gap between basic research and application on a large industrial scale. This will have a pull effect on well-trained specialists and excellent scientists."

Professor Holger Hanselka, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft: "With our focus on future-relevant technologies, Fraunhofer is strengthening the technological sovereignty and innovative power of Germany as a business location. Battery technologies play a central role in this - they are crucial to making value creation in mobility, energy and industry more independent and securing a leading position in global competition. The launch of the pilot line and the establishment of an efficient research and production environment at the "FFB PreFab" mark a key milestone towards competitive battery production. I would like to thank the BMFTR and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia for their support of the Fraunhofer FFB and its inclusion as a flagship project on the high-tech agenda. The commissioning of the production line and the first battery cell produced there show that Fraunhofer FFB is making a significant contribution to technological sovereignty as a link between basic research and series production."

In this context, the federal government will ensure that the necessary financial resources are made available for the establishment of the Fraunhofer FFB. This is the only way that the performance target jointly agreed with the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft for the establishment of a research factory on a gigafactory scale can be achieved. The costs have also risen on the federal side, as was previously the case for the state of NRW, mainly due to inflation since 2019/2020, from 500 million euros in 2019/2020 in an initial planning phase to 750 million euros now.

Background

In terms of Germany's and Europe's technological sovereignty, the battery is an outstanding key technology - for climate-neutral mobility and energy generation in equal measure. The High-Tech Agenda Germany has set the goal of establishing competitive battery production and cycle management in Germany by 2035, embedded in a European production network.

The central flagship measure is the Fraunhofer FFB as a link between science and industry. Technologies from the laboratory are to be scaled up and transferred to commercial applications. The Fraunhofer FFB provides a research infrastructure that is unique in the world, enabling small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), large companies and academic institutions to test, implement and optimise the production of new battery technologies in a digitalised, flexible and modular manufacturing environment. Fraunhofer FFB will also demonstrate production and operating concepts to make the battery "Made in Germany" competitive.