Global crises, geopolitical tensions, and shortages of raw materials highlight the vulnerability of our energy and material supplies. At the same time, environmental sustainability and economic competitiveness must go hand in hand. Fraunhofer IFAM develops solutions that ensure technological sovereignty, reduce dependencies, and build sustainable value chains – for a resilient, climate-neutral energy and raw materials supply.
Energy systems and material cycles must be crisis-resistant, resource-efficient, and adaptable to change. Critical raw materials such as lithium and cobalt are in short supply, recycling rates are too low, and the transition to a circular economy is still in its infancy. Solutions must therefore cover the entire life cycle – from raw material extraction through use to recycling – and be economically, ecologically, and strategically viable.
Our Services:
We develop batteries and storage systems that operate independently of scarce raw materials such as lithium or cobalt. Zinc-ion batteries offer high energy densities, safety, and cost advantages for stationary energy systems and decentralized storage applications. These technologies enhance energy security and support the energy transition without relying on global supply chains.
Using electrochemical processes such as “ion pumping,” we selectively recover valuable metals from industrial wastewater and mine water – efficiently, environmentally friendly, and without chemical additives. Bio-based polymers made from renewable raw materials replace fossil-based plastics in adhesives, coatings, and potting compounds. “Debonding on Demand” adhesive technologies enable the separation of materials by type and are revolutionizing recycling.
We combine materials science, process development, energy storage research, and strategic consulting. Our interdisciplinary expertise enables us to design resilient end-to-end value chains – from raw material strategy and product development to recycling. Through life-cycle analyses and economic feasibility studies, we provide robust decision-making frameworks for companies and public sector stakeholders.
Energy and resource resilience refers to the ability of energy systems and material cycles to weather crises without relying on critical raw materials, while at the same time operating in an environmentally sustainable manner.
We are developing zinc-ion batteries and other storage technologies that do not contain lithium or cobalt, and that are safe, cost-effective, and independent of raw materials for stationary applications.
“Ion pumping” is an electrochemical process for the selective extraction of metals such as lithium from industrial wastewater and mine water – efficiently and without the use of chemical additives.
Adhesives that can be separated by type using electrical voltage or temperature pulses, thereby significantly simplifying the recycling of composite materials.
Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM