KEMIWATT

Their core work

KEMIWATT is a French company specializing in organic redox flow battery (ORFB) technology for stationary energy storage. They develop electrode materials and battery systems that use aqueous organic compounds instead of expensive or toxic metals like vanadium, targeting cost reduction and improved lifecycle performance. Their work spans from fundamental materials research to integration of their storage technology into hybrid battery systems and district-level energy networks. Based in Rennes, they sit at the intersection of electrochemistry R&D and commercial energy storage deployment.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

KEMIWATT's H2020 participation is concentrated in a short window (2020–2021), but a clear trajectory is visible. Their earliest involvement (RESPONSE, 2020) placed them in a broad district energy context — decarbonisation, grid flexibility, and renewable integration. By 2021, their focus narrowed sharply to their core technology: organic redox flow batteries, electrode materials, and hybrid storage systems (NEREFLOW, HYBRIS). This suggests a company that entered EU projects through larger energy consortia and then pivoted to assert leadership in its specific technology niche.

KEMIWATT is consolidating around organic redox flow battery technology, moving from participant roles in broad energy projects toward coordinating targeted materials R&D — expect them to seek partnerships for scaling and commercializing ORFB systems.

How they like to work

KEMIWATT splits between leading and participating: they coordinated NEREFLOW (a focused MSCA research fellowship) and joined two larger consortia as a partner. With 74 unique partners across 15 countries from just 3 projects, their network is broad — largely inherited from the large RESPONSE and HYBRIS consortia rather than built through many bilateral relationships. They appear comfortable contributing specialized battery technology to large multi-partner initiatives while also running smaller, focused research efforts.

Through 3 projects, KEMIWATT has connected with 74 partners across 15 countries, giving them a wide European network despite a short track record. This breadth comes primarily from participation in large-scale Innovation Actions rather than from repeated bilateral partnerships.

What sets them apart

KEMIWATT occupies a specific niche: organic redox flow batteries using aqueous electrolytes — a technology that avoids the cost and supply-chain risks of vanadium-based systems. Their combination of materials-level R&D (NEREFLOW) and system-level integration (HYBRIS) means they can contribute across the full development chain. For consortium builders seeking a partner with hands-on ORFB expertise and a track record of both coordinating and participating in EU projects, KEMIWATT fills a gap that few European companies cover.

Highlights from their portfolio

• NEREFLOW
  KEMIWATT's only coordinated project — a focused MSCA fellowship on novel electrode materials for aqueous organic redox flow batteries, signaling deep in-house expertise.
• HYBRIS
  Largest EC contribution (EUR 321,567) to KEMIWATT, combining Li-Ion and redox flow batteries in a hybrid system for grid and behind-the-meter segments.
• RESPONSE
  Long-running project (2020–2026) on energy positive districts, placing KEMIWATT's storage technology in a real-world urban deployment context.