CiQUS secures a new ERC Proof of Concept to develop a sustainable energy storage solution

The Center for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials (CiQUS) at the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, part of the CIGUS Network, an initiative promoted by the Xunta de Galicia that brings together centers within the Galician research system that have demonstrated their scientific excellence, has been awarded a new Proof of Concept (PoC) grant from the European Research Council (ERC), the fifth in the center’s track record.

The project, named ZEST, will be coordinated by distinguished Oportunius researcher María Giménez López, who becomes the first researcher to obtain a second ERC Proof of Concept project in Galicia. The initiative aims to develop a hybrid rechargeable battery based on zinc, bromine, and manganese dioxide as a safe, scalable, and low-cost solution for stationary energy storage.

ZEST builds on previous research results from the group led by Giménez López in the design of new advanced materials and electrolytes for energy applications. The project will involve the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) as an industrial partner and will address some of the main limitations of zinc-based batteries by developing new electrode materials and electrolytes using technologies previously patented by the group.

ERC Proof of Concept projects are aimed at facilitating the transfer of basic research results towards applications with market potential. In this context, ZEST will not only technically validate the proposal at prototype level, but will also define a roadmap for its industrial exploitation, including market analysis, intellectual property strategy, and collaboration with stakeholders in the energy sector.