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Image: The joint team of researchers and engineers from NTU and Durapower, with the container-sized energy storage solution that test-bedded the AI-powered tech. The ESS has Li-ion batteries, solar panels, and electrical and safety equipment.
Scientists from NTU and Durapower Technology Singapore Pte Ltd have developed a cloud-based technology that can greatly enhance the lifespan and safety of lithium-ion batteries.
As the global shift towards renewable energy and electric vehicles (EVs) accelerates, the demand for efficient, safe and sustainable batteries has become a pressing concern. Similarly, with the rise in cloud computing, the demand for energy storage systems for data centres has been growing.
Powered by the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), this patent-pending innovation can help companies and data centres lower the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries, including potential fire hazards, particularly in hot and humid climates like Singapore.
The new technology offers high-accuracy, real-time monitoring, and can predict battery conditions for up to five years, which can help extend the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries by more than 50 per cent and thus reduce carbon emissions significantly.
SINGAPORE - A new technology aims to harness artificial intelligence to make lithium-ion batteries – used in everything from personal mobility devices to electric cars – safer by reducing their risk of catching fire.
The system, developed by scientists from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and energy storage solutions firm Durapower, uses a "digital twin" that mirrors an actual battery, allowing for accurate, real-time monitoring and predictions of battery conditions up to five years ahead.
Lithium-ion batteries are widely used as they are lightweight and have high energy density.
However, there are possible issues such as damage from overcharging and accelerated reactions when overheated – a serious risk in hot and humid Singapore, said Assistant Professor Hung Dinh Nguyen, one of the project''s leads.
The patent-pending FXMS would act as a form of predictive maintenance so that corrective action can be taken before such situations occur, he added.
This is especially important with increasing demand for electric vehicles in Singapore as it moves towards its target of having all vehicles here run on cleaner energy by 2040, noted Prof Nguyen, who is cluster director of Renewables'' Integration & Microgrids at the Energy Research Institute at NTU.
One of the technology''s advantages is that it can increase battery life by up to 50 per cent.
Prof Nguyen said that while software that can simulate batteries exists on the market, FXMS is faster and more efficient than such alternatives – taking just 8 seconds to simulate one hour of a battery''s operations, compared with up to 40 minutes for other software.
"Since our technology is cloud-based, it is scalable and can easily be adapted for consumer electronics such as mobility devices, laptops and mobile phones, helping the batteries to last longer and in the long run, reduce electronic waste and carbon footprint," he added.
In future, consumers could use an app to personally monitor the condition of batteries in their devices, Assistant Professor Nguyen said, noting that several leading auto manufacturers have already expressed interest in the technology.
NTU said that for large battery storage systems such as those used in renewable energy grids or data centres, the use of digital twin technology would allow for electrical load to be rerouted to prolong the life of weaker batteries, or for the use of a battery pack to be stopped temporarily until it can be replaced.
The technology could potentially help reduce carbon emission through the reduction of battery waste, as batteries require a lot of resources and energy to manufacture, the university added.
Ageing battery packs, such as those in electric vehicles, are commonly repurposed for "second life" applications such as energy storage – and a digital twin could help monitor their condition, said Durapower chief executive Kelvin Lim.
"This is very important because as the industry is talking about second life batteries, repurposed batteries, no one knows enough about how the batteries have aged over time," he added, pointing to the use of such batteries in areas such as stabilising the electrical grid in rural areas.
As Li pollution is a relatively new pollution that has only appeared in the past 2 to 3 decades, the attention it receives remains limited. Today, only a few countries such as Australia (Shen et al., 2020), have identified and listed Li as a pollutant in water. Li is also missing from the list of pollutants tested to qualify water as safe drinking water published by PUB, Singapore''s National Water Agency (Public Utilities Board, n.d.) (Figure 1). With the growing concentration of Li to levels no longer negligible in the environment, it is necessary to include Li as a pollutant in indicators (Shen et al., 2020).
Besides the lack of Li indicators, there is also a lack of standards and regulations imposed on lithium-ion battery producers. Despite having over a decade of production history in China, China''s Ministry of Ecology and Environment only issued the Technical Specification of Pollution Control for Treatment of Waste Power Lithium-ion Battery at the end of 2021 (AOKI, 2021). On the other hand, places where the lithium-ion battery industry is still very young such as Australia does not have related regulations and standards for new battery factories yet (ERAC, n.d.). Very often, places that lack a national standard for battery manufacturing will refer to overseas standards such as CE standards required by the European Union (EU, 2022) (Figure 2).
However, as these are just references, factories are not legally required to abide by these standards. Without proper enforcement, Li waste material can easily escape into the environment polluting water sources consumed and used for agriculture. Drinking Li-polluted water for prolonged periods can have detrimental health impacts.
Moving back to Singapore, although Singapore does not currently have a lithium-ion battery of its own, Singapore continues to rely heavily on lithium-ion battery-powered devices and machines. In an effort to reduce carbon emissions, The Singapore Green Plan 2030 campaigns to raise awareness and promote electric vehicles to the public (LTA, 2022) (Figure 3).
The Singapore Green Plan 2030 includes a strong push to electrify our vehicle population, which would help Singapore achieve our vision of 100% cleaner energy vehicles by 2040. – LTA, 2022
This move towards EVs will no doubt significantly increase the use and disposal of lithium-ion batteries. Currently, little information can be found online about the recycling and management of these lithium-ion batteries in Singapore. To promote the use of these batteries, Tan (2020), Director of the Waste and Resource Management Department National Environment Agency (NEA), has even gone on to state that
Lithium-ion batteries are not hazardous, while nickel metal hydride batteries are hermetically sealed to prevent materials within the batteries from escaping into the environment.
However, Li does have impacts on the environment and humans when consumed and lithium-ion batteries do contain nickel and other heavy metals in its cathode etc. (Yan et al., 2020). Given the increase in the concentration of Li in rivers in Shanghai and other major cities due to the increase in lithium-ion batteries (Shen et al., 2020), Singapore must ensure that proper regulations are set in place to ensure that these batteries are properly recycled and disposed of.
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