5 million euro Growth Fund grant for new batteries for storing sustainable energy
A team led by Prof. Edwin Otten of the University of Groningen will receive a 5 million euro NWO grant from the National Growth Fund programme “Material Independence and Circular Batteries”. Together with researchers from the universities of Twente, Nijmegen, Eindhoven and Delft, TNO, DIFFER and industrial partners, he will develop new batteries that can store renewable energy reliably and affordably for several days.
The innovations from the project will contribute to the energy transition and strengthen the Dutch battery sector.
Urgent need
The increasing use of solar and wind energy is putting pressure on the stability of the electricity grid. This has created an urgent need for cost-effective long-term energy storage. This project is developing new batteries with an energy density four times higher than that of current commercial systems. The research combines computational screening, targeted material synthesis, in-operando spectroscopic characterisation and multiscale modelling, contributing to fundamental breakthroughs and accelerated application of large-scale energy storage, with an eye for policy and economic impact in the Netherlands.
UG partner in two other battery projects
In this Call for Proposals ‘Technology Development for Circular Batteries’, nearly €14.5 million has been awarded to a total of three projects. The University of Groningen is a partner in the two other projects, which focus on the recycling of lithium-ion batteries and research into more efficient battery technologies.
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Sustainable batteries: key to a climate-neutral energy supply
The development of sustainable battery systems is crucial for the energy transition – for electric transport, but also for the storage of green energy from the sun and wind. Large-scale battery systems are needed to prevent grid congestion and reduce total CO2 emissions. In addition, sustainable battery technologies and recycling processes must be developed to counteract negative environmental effects and reduce dependence on other countries for raw materials.
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13 January 2026
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