BALIHT · Project

Plant-Based Batteries That Work in Hot Climates Without Cooling Systems

energyTestedTRL 5

Most large-scale batteries overheat if the temperature goes above 40°C, so you need to run energy-hungry cooling systems to keep them alive — especially in hot countries. BALIHT figured out how to build a flow battery from lignin, a natural compound found in wood, that actually works better at higher temperatures — up to 80°C. Think of it like designing an engine that runs more efficiently in summer instead of overheating. The result is a battery that skips the air conditioning bill entirely and still delivers 20% better energy efficiency.

By the numbers

80°C

Maximum operating temperature (vs 40°C for current batteries)

20%

Higher energy efficiency than current redox flow batteries

Consortium partners across 5 countries

69%

Industry partner ratio in consortium

Industry partners involved in development

The business problem

What needed solving

Current large-scale batteries cannot handle temperatures above 40°C without expensive cooling systems, making them inefficient and costly in warm climates — precisely the regions with the most solar energy potential. This creates a catch-22: the sunniest places need the most battery storage but pay the highest cooling bills to keep those batteries running. Operators in southern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East lose significant efficiency and revenue to thermal management.

The solution

What was built

The project built a prototype organic redox flow battery using lignin-based electrolytes, non-fluorinated membranes, and carbon-based electrodes that operates at temperatures up to 80°C without cooling. A documented prototype was tested and a public report with power, energy, and efficiency measurements was produced.

Audience

Who needs this

Solar and wind farm operators in hot climates (southern Europe, MENA, sub-Saharan Africa)EV fast-charging network operators building stations in warm regionsGrid operators and utilities providing ancillary services and frequency regulationIndustrial facilities with high heat environments needing on-site energy storageBattery system integrators looking for alternatives to vanadium-based flow batteries

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Renewable Energy

enterprise

Target: Solar and wind farm operators in warm climates

If you are a solar or wind farm operator in southern Europe, the Middle East, or Africa dealing with expensive cooling systems for your battery storage — this project developed an organic redox flow battery that works up to 80°C without cooling, delivering 20% higher energy efficiency than current systems. That means lower operating costs and better returns on your renewable installations in regions between 40° latitude North and South.

Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

mid-size

Target: EV charging network operators

If you are building high-performance EV charging stations and struggling with battery storage that overheats under heavy use — this project developed a flow battery designed for heavy multicycle operation at elevated temperatures. The lignin-based electrolyte eliminates costly cooling infrastructure, reducing both capital and maintenance expenses at fast-charging hubs.

Grid Services and Utilities

enterprise

Target: Distribution grid operators and ancillary service providers

If you are a grid operator needing flexible energy storage for frequency regulation and grid stability — this project built a battery specifically designed for repeated charge-discharge cycles in warm environments. The organic, lignin-based chemistry uses renewable raw materials and non-fluorinated membranes, lowering both environmental and operational costs compared to vanadium-based alternatives.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does this battery cost compared to existing solutions?

The project uses lignin-based electrolytes — lignin is the largest natural source of aromatic compounds and is widely available as a byproduct of the paper industry, making raw materials significantly cheaper than vanadium used in conventional redox flow batteries. Additionally, by eliminating the cooling system entirely, operational costs drop. Specific unit pricing is not available in the project data.

Can this scale to industrial-size installations?

The technology targets grid-scale applications including smoothing output from solar and wind plants, ancillary grid services, and high-performance EV charging points. The consortium of 13 partners across 5 countries, with 9 industry partners (69% industry ratio), was structured for industrial scale-up. Based on available project data, a prototype was built and tested but commercial-scale manufacturing would require further development.

What is the IP situation and how can I license this?

BALIHT was funded as a Research and Innovation Action (RIA), meaning IP generated typically stays with the consortium partners. CMBlu, a key partner, had already developed the base organic redox flow battery technology before the project. Licensing discussions would need to go through the consortium, led by coordinator AIMPLAS in Spain.

How does it perform in real-world conditions?

The project produced a public report on battery power, energy, and efficiency of the prototype including sensors and monitoring devices. The battery was designed to operate at temperatures up to 80°C — double the 40°C limit of current systems — with 20% higher energy efficiency by eliminating cooling requirements and reducing pump energy needs.

What regulations or standards does this meet?

Based on available project data, the battery uses non-fluorinated membranes and organic (lignin-based) electrolytes, which aligns with growing EU restrictions on fluorinated chemicals (PFAS). The project addressed the LC-BAT-4-2019 call topic on next-generation battery technologies. Specific certifications or safety standards compliance details are not available in the data.

What is the timeline to market readiness?

The project ran from December 2019 to September 2023 and achieved prototype-level validation. Based on the deliverable data, a working prototype with integrated sensors was demonstrated. Moving to commercial deployment would likely require additional pilot testing and manufacturing scale-up, placing realistic market entry several years out.

Consortium

Who built it

The BALIHT consortium is heavily industry-oriented: 9 out of 13 partners (69%) come from industry, with 4 SMEs bringing agility and 2 universities providing research depth. The partnership spans 5 countries (Belgium, Germany, Spain, Croatia, Netherlands), giving solid coverage across European markets. The coordinator AIMPLAS is a Spanish materials research association classified as an SME, suggesting a lean, applied-research leadership style rather than a purely academic approach. CMBlu contributed pre-existing organic battery technology as a foundation, which means the project built on proven chemistry rather than starting from scratch. This industry-heavy mix signals genuine intent to commercialize, not just publish papers.

AIMPLAS - ASOCIACION DE INVESTIGACION DE MATERIALES PLASTICOS Y CONEXASCoordinator · ES
SCHUNK KOHLENSTOFF-TECHNIK GMBHparticipant · DE
UNIVERSITEIT LEIDENparticipant · NL
KONCAR - DIGITAL DOO ZA DIGITALNE USLUGEparticipant · HR
COBRA INSTALACIONES Y SERVICIOS S.Aparticipant · ES
ETRA INVESTIGACION Y DESARROLLO SAparticipant · ES
ALIENOREU SPRLparticipant · BE
KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVENparticipant · BE
AUTORIDAD PORTUARIA DE BALEARESparticipant · ES
KONCAR - INZENJERING DOO ZA PROIZVODNJU I USLUGEparticipant · HR

How to reach the team

AIMPLAS (Spain) — a materials research association specializing in plastics and related materials. Contact through their institutional website or the CORDIS contact form.

Order a report on this consortium See AIMPLAS - ASOCIACION DE INVESTIGACION DE MATERIALES PLASTICOS Y CONEXAS profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the BALIHT team to discuss licensing or pilot partnerships? SciTransfer can arrange a direct connection with the right technical contact.

Order a report on this topic More in Energy & Climate