VDE Renewables, together with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and the Nanyang Technological University Singapore’s (NTU Singapore) Energy Research Institute (ERI@N), launched the Global Energy Storage Competence Cluster (GECC), at the annual Asia Clean Energy Summit in Singapore. This global initiative for energy storage will serve the international cleantech sector along the entire value chain and features VDE Prime Labs in Singapore, Germany and the USA.
The demand for batteries worldwide is projected to grow exponentially with applications not only in the portable electronics sector, but also in e-mobility and stationary storage in conjunction with renewable energies and power grid support. While lead-acid based batteries will continue to be utilized in traditional applications, Lithium-ion-based battery technology will become the dominant solution for mobile as well as stationary energy storage applications. The growth of the energy storage industry and markets points to the increasing demand for testing – not only to support national and international certification requirements, but also to support industry development and innovation efforts and to increase safety.
The GECC will have a global mandate, incorporating testing and research capabilities in Germany, Singapore and the US. The GECC will offer VDE’s world-class testing and certification product portfolio for energy storage products and systems internationally and also address local needs. Furthermore, the Singapore Prime Lab shall forge new relationships with local players to carry out joint research projects and develop testing activities together with the GECC; therefore also strengthening linkages for knowledge exchanges between Singapore, Germany and the USA.
