More energy from every battery Spin-off project from TU Braunschweig receives exist research transfer funding
The start-up project ‘DOYAM-LiONEis’ at the Institute for Electrical Machines, Traction and Drives (IMAB) at Technische Universität Braunschweig is being funded for two years with almost one million euros by the exist Research Transfer programme of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. The start-up is developing hardware and software solutions to accurately determine the charge and ageing status of lithium-ion batteries.
In the wake of the energy transition and the increasing feed-in of fluctuating renewable energies, battery storage is becoming increasingly important. It is used to temporarily store surplus wind and solar energy and feed it back into the grid when needed. In this way, it makes a significant contribution to grid stabilisation and security of supply. This is where the three founders, Thorben Schobre, Sheikh Mustafa Mumtaz and Lukas Radomsky, come in. They want to make an important contribution to the efficient and sustainable use of energy storage systems.
Optimised operation, extended service life
The TU Braunschweig start-up ‘Doyam’ develops innovative hardware and software solutions for the highly accurate determination of the charge and ageing status of batteries. This technology enables optimised operation, extends the service life of battery energy storage systems (BESS) and thus reduces operating and investment costs as well as maintenance requirements. At the heart of the solution is electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) used during operation to measure alternating current resistance, which is combined with machine learning (ML) algorithms. The use of modular power electronic converters allows this method to be applied to large cell stacks (interconnected battery cells), as are common in grid-connected batteries.
For the founders, this involves much more than simply developing their prototype into a series-production product. In an environment dominated by international players, the start-up aims to secure Germany’s long-term technological leadership in the field of battery technology. As former research assistants at the Institute for Electrical Machines, Traction and Drives at Technische Universität Braunschweig, Thorben Schobre and Lukas Radomsky are very familiar with the latest technologies in the fields of power electronics and battery technology, as well as machine learning. The institute provides the founding team with excellent laboratories to successfully implement their project.
About exist research transfer
With the exist funding programme, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy supports technology-oriented and knowledge-based start-ups. The programme is co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+). An exist research transfer supports outstanding, research-based start-up projects that involve complex and risky development work due to their technological demands. The aim is to translate scientific findings into marketable products, clarify open technical and economic questions and, on this basis, develop a viable business plan.
The start-up team at IMAB consists of Thorben Schobre, Sheikh Mustafa Mumtaz and Lukas Radomsky. The team is supported by the Institute for Electrical Machines, Traction and Drives, in particular by Professor Regine Mallwitz as mentor of the project, by the institute director, Professor Markus Henke, and by the start-up support team at the Transfer Service of TU Braunschweig, represented by Dr Manuela-Christina Hahn. The Transfer Service offers start-up support from the initial idea to the formal establishment of the company. The effective cooperation between the various departments in institutes and administration at the TU Braunschweig sets the course for such successful start-ups from the scientific community.