The project NoVOC addresses the Topic Environmentally sustainable processing techniques applied to large scale electrode and cell component manufacturing for Li ion batteries. The activities of NoVOC are tailored to the challenges addressed by the call topic: 1. Lower carbon footprint cell manufacturing in Europe. 2. New sustainable electrode and cell manufacturing techniques with low energy consumption, and no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) emissions. 3. Electrode coating production techniques eliminate organic solvents reduce the capital costs associated to the solvent recovery system. 4. Dry manufacturing techniques with next generation materials. 5. Industrializing closed loops and process design to return low-value chemicals from manufacturing processes to high-value products In NoVOC we aim to design and demonstrate two competitive cell manufacturing technologies aqueous and dry cell manufacturing technologies for automotive batteries intended for production in Europe. The innovations proposed in NoVOC centre on improvements of cell manufacturing process by integrating two novel electrode manufacturing processes into the currently available cell assembly process and demonstrate manufacturability of automotive cells in two formats (pouch and cylindrical) with no toxic organic solvent at the fraction of the cell manufacturing cost that is currently available today. Next generation cell manufacturing processes developed in Europe for electric vehicles batteries

HighSpin aims to develop high-performing, safe and sustainable generation 3b high-voltage spinel LNMO||Si/C material, cells and modules with a short industrialisation pathway and demonstrate their application for automotive and aeronautic transport applications. The project addresses in full the scope of the HORIZON-CL5-2021-D2-01-02 topic, setting its activities in the “high-voltage” line. The project objectives are: • Further develop the LNMO||Si/C cell chemistry compared to the reference 3beLiEVe baseline, extracting its maximum performance. • Develop and manufacture LNMO||Si/C cells fit for automotive and aeronautic applications. • Design and demonstrate battery modules for automotive and aeronautic applications. • Thoroughly assess the LMNO||Si/C HighSpin technology vs. performance, recyclability, cost and TRL. The HighSpin cell delivers 390 Wh/kg and 925 Wh/l target energy density, 790 W/kg and 1,850 W/l target power density (at 2C), 2,000 deep cycles, and 90 €/kWh target cost (pack-level). The project activities encompass stabilisation of the active materials via microstructure optimisation, the development of high-voltage electrolyte formulations containing LiPF6 and LIFSI, high-speed laser-structuring of the electrodes, and the inclusion of operando sensors in the form of a chip-based Cell Management Unit (CMU). HighSpin will demonstrate TRL 6 at the battery module level, with a module-to-cell gravimetric energy density ratio of 85-to-90% (depending on the application). Recyclability is demonstrated, targeting 90% recycling efficiency at 99.9% purity. HighSpin aims at approaching the market as a second-step generation 3b LNMO||Si/C in the year 2028 (automotive) and 2030 (aeronautics), delivering above 40 GWh/year and 4 billion/year sales volume in the reference year 2030.

SOLIFLY responds in full to the challenges of the JTI-CS2-2020-CfP11-THT-11 call, “High Power density / multifunctional electrical storage solutions for aeronautic applications”, by developing and combining two structural battery concepts: (i) multi-functional materials with a high degree of integration - Coated Carbon Fibres (CCF), and (ii) multi-functional elements with a medium degree of integration - Reinforced Multilayer Stack (RMS). The project has three vertical objectives: • exploring and advancing a non-conventional semi-solid-state Li-ion battery material formulation suit-able for structural batteries: NMC622 (cathode), Si/C (anode) and bicontinuous polymer-ionic liquid electrolyte (BCE), i.e. NMC622|BCE|Si/C; • enabling the functional integration of this material within the CCF and RMS concepts, upscaling them to the level of a representative aeronautic stiffened panel structure, i.e. SOLIFLY demonstrator; • characterising the electrochemical and mechanical performance of this demonstrator. These vertical objectives are complemented with a horizontal one: to tailor SOLIFLY to the needs of the aeronautic industry. This is achieved by factoring end-user requirements and specifications into the design process right from the start, and by including airworthiness and manufacturing criteria together with a technology roadmap and TRL scale-up strategy. The SOLIFLY demonstrator aims at achieving a gravimetric energy density at cell level between 100 and 180 Wh/kg, a nominal discharge rate of 1C, being capable of sustaining 300+ cycles at 0.1C with 90% capacity retention and achieving TRL 4 by the end of the project (2023). SOLIFLY ultimately aims at supporting the long-term development of the European aeronautic industry, delivering the first aeronautic stiffened panel with an integrated semi-solid-state battery, and paving the way for making structural batteries a viable technology for the next generation hybrid electric airliner.

To support the upcoming short-term needs of the battery industry, it is imperative to have new differentiating European battery technology for 4b generation batteries on the market from 2025. Halide solid state batteries for ELectric vEhicles aNd Aircrafts (HELENA) responds to the need of the development of a safe, novel high energy efficiency and power density solid state battery (4b generation batteries) cells, based on high capacity Ni-rich cathode (NMC), high-energy Li metal (LiM) anode and Li-ion superionic halide solid electrolyte for application in electric vehicles and, especially in aircrafts. HELENA will support Europe, in this sense, on its transition towards a climate-neutral continent since electric aviation is poised to take off within the next five to 10 years, with innovations already being pursued for electric vehicle batteries. Moreover, HELENA will avoid dependence on Asia for battery production. HELENA is built by a multidisciplinary and highly research experienced consortium that covers the whole battery value chain and proposes a disruptive halide-based solid-state cell technology with the overall aim to significantly increase the adoption of these batteries on aircrafts and EVs The technical challenges that are presented by current conventional battery technology and the consumer needs will be overcome - especially the reduction in costs of battery devices, enable scalable and safe cell manufacturing, increasing their capabilities for long distance traveling and fast charging, ensuring a high safety of the battery.

NEWBORN focuses on realistic and commercially viable project outcomes significantly exceeding the Call topic Expected Outcomes. This is the only path to bring a real impact, well beyond paperwork and test rigs. With this in mind, the project applies the steppingstone principle and intends to bring aviation graded fuel cells into the market as soon as safely possible. This will generate operational data to support certification on CS-25 aircraft. It will further provide vital acceptance gap mitigation in the conservative air transport environment. The 18 multi-disciplinary partners, including 3 non-traditional aerospace partners and 2 SMEs, will work on 28 key enabling technologies. They will be matured and optimized to support an EIS of CS-23 aircraft by 2030 and regional aircraft by 2035. The ambition of the project is to achieve an overall propulsion system efficiency of 50% by 2026, calculated as a ratio of energy on the propeller shaft to the hydrogen lower heating value. This ambition greatly surpasses the expected outcome of the HPA-02 Call. Similarly, by the end of 2025, the project will demonstrate widely scalable fuel cell power source technology with a power density of >1.2 kW/kg and stack power density of >5 kW/kg. Technologies will be adaptable to different maximum flight altitudes of ≤ FL250 and ≤FL450, and scalable down to ~250kW and reusable for secondary power in SMR flying altitudes by 2026. An innovative cryogenic tank concept will be integrated, demonstrating a gravimetric index of 35% for the CS-23 aircraft and scalable up to 50% for regional aircraft. The project will also address high power density high voltage energy conversion, propulsion systems, and the next generation microtube heat exchangers, along with an accurate digital twin of the overall system. All together, NEWBORN will develop a technology demonstrator prepared for flight demonstration in Clean Aviation Phase 2.