By entering into an annual strategic partnership with National Center for Technological Research and Development (EKETA) she continued Solar Light Group, member of the Olympia group, with the aim of advancing battery technology. At the heart of this effort is the Sunlight pilot line to establish large-scale lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility, for energy storage systems (ESS) and industrial mobility applications. With advanced technologies, the pilot line is capable of producing components in machinery on an industrial scale.
As the group emphasizes this initiative underlines its commitment to leading the way in energy storage, through the research and development of cutting-edge materials for new battery technologies. It reflects its dedication to harnessing scientific knowledge and practical experience, bringing tangible results. It also recognizes the fundamental role played by research and development in battery technologies, which combined with materials science and engineering, will radically change sectors such as logistics and transport, specializing as a company in innovative industrial electrification solutions for the intralogistics sector and in energy storage. RES Systems. Through the thorough evaluation of modern materials and the search for new options, it aims to improve battery capabilities, strengthen the supply chain and promote increasingly efficient and sustainable energy solutions. According to Natalie Marinaki, Head of R&D Laboratories at Sunlight, “this partnership confirms once again Sunlight’s commitment to advancing battery technology and achieving high standards of quality and performance. We are embarking on this journey with EKETA, together with an interdisciplinary team of experts in materials science, chemistry and engineering, leveraging state-of-the-art analytical techniques and equipment, to investigate alternative materials with the aim of developing advanced battery technologies.”
The Labs Team, which includes the Analysis, R&D and Prototyping laboratories, will be responsible for evaluating raw materials, researching new materials and processes and updating formulas to meet the specifications of the pilot production line. To achieve this objective, Sunlight has entered into strategic partnerships with recognized research institutions, in addition to EKETA, with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) and the PolyLab of the University of Ioannina, which will facilitate the study of materials, the regulation of equipment, defining procedures and training the company’s engineers. With EKETA’s participation, valuable know-how from large European projects is added, promoting joint sector efforts and continuous innovation. Georgia Kastrinaki from EKETA characteristically noted that “we are particularly happy about our collaboration with Sunlight. Through the study of raw materials, we are paving the way for the creation of new technologies in the battery industry and sustainable energy solutions, in the hope of a greener tomorrow.”
The partnership with EKETA further strengthens Sunlight’s existing partnerships, which for years has been building strong ties with academic institutions to find materials to develop batteries, drive innovation in cutting-edge technologies and discover new energy storage methods. The University of Ioannina – PolyLab, as part of the annual collaboration, performs raw material analysis to validate supplier specifications, as well as investigates innovative materials for battery development, with a focus on electrodes and separators. The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), through a corresponding annual collaboration, conducts raw material analyzes to verify supplier specifications and investigate new battery materials, focusing mainly on electrolytes and the solvent NMP. The Hellenic University of the Mediterranean (HMU) participates in an ongoing partnership linked to IPCEI, to research new battery materials and technologies.