Digitization and life cycle management

Digitization is a key enabler for the design of sustainable energy storage systems, including the necessary production processes and systems. Fraunhofer ZESS uses a wide range of digital methods for the planning and design of the entire factory, e.g., simulation approaches from individual processes to the factory roof, 3D visualization, and virtual reality applications. Fraunhofer ZESS carries out broad and automated recording of all relevant parameters in the production infrastructure. At the same time, innovative sensor technology is being developed for monitoring battery cells during operation. Data-based methods (data mining) can be used to determine the effects of materials, processes, and the production environment on the resulting product properties.

Real-time data analysis enables the creation of digital twins of products and processes and their coupling with the physical production environment in the sense of cyber-physical systems. In addition, digitization and increasing data availability enable holistic life cycle management of solid-state batteries. Using methods such as life cycle assessment and life cycle costing, technical, economic, and ecological analyses are carried out over the entire product life cycle. Security of supply and social aspects such as working conditions during the extraction of the necessary raw materials are also taken into account. The findings can be used as decision support in the early stages of development for subsequent cell generations.