One of the greatest challenges of our time is to secure a sustainable and affordable energy supply through easily available, affordable and environmentally friendly methods. The steady growth of renewable energies and electromobility, the generation of light and the necessary weight reduction in all areas of mobility make the availability of resources a constant challenge. The focus is on intelligent recycling processes, efficient material recycling and sustainable cycle concepts for strategic materials for energy conversion, storage and saving. The Fraunhofer Institute IWKS develops individual strategies for the sustainable use of materials and energy. To this end, we develop efficient recovery processes for critical materials in the fields of batteries, PV modules and lighting. Together with you, we develop alternative solutions to conventional materials and recyclable product designs.
In the field of lightweight construction, we offer you a state-of-the-art resin transfer moulding (RTM) process for the production of extremely lightweight 3-dimensional sandwich components from PU foams and coatings with special properties up to bionic surface structures. In addition to special manufacturing and analysis methods, we offer criticality and market studies as well as sustainability analyses.
The aim is to close material cycles, make secondary raw materials accessible and show sustainable alternatives for a better environment.
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Batteries and PV-modules
The market for modern energy conversion and storage systems is growing rapidly. The IWKS develops concepts and processes for the recycling of valuable materials from lithium-ion batteries, photovoltaic systems and fuel cells.