High-ranking visitor at Alumina Systems: Member of the Bundestag Emmi Zeulner (right) found out about the current development status of the CeraSalt® battery. The member of parliament played a key role in ensuring that Alumina Systems received funding as part of the second major European project for battery cell production. Hubert Aiwanger, Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs, and Elisabeth Winkelmeier-Becker, then State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs, presented the company with a funding notice for 8.7 million euros in March 2021. Alumina Systems is one of only eleven companies in Germany whose battery projects are funded by the European Union, the federal government and the states.
Dr.-Ing. Holger Wampers, managing partner (left in the picture), led the member of the Bundestag through the new production halls, in which the first batteries under the brand name CeraSalt® will be produced from 2024. According to Wampers, the development of the battery began in 2018. “The project has gained significant momentum thanks to the funding commitment of 8.7 million euros in 2021,” emphasized Dr. Wampers. In this context, Dr. Wampers expressly thanked MP Emmi Zeulner: “You were able to see for yourself the innovative strength of our company at the ‘Innovation Day 2019’ and then made important contacts with the Federal Ministry of Economics. Without you, we would not have received this funding.” As a thank you, Dr. Wampers presented the MP with a bouquet of flowers, which she immediately passed on to the only female member of the CeraSalt® team at Alumina Systems, Kerstin Zeies (pictured in the middle).
After a tour of the production facility, MP Emmi Zeulner was extremely impressed by the performance and innovative strength of Alumina Systems GmbH. “It is important to support local companies in order to strengthen small and medium-sized businesses in Germany,” emphasized the MP. In conversation with the CeraSalt® team, Emmi Zeulner was pleased with the team’s high level of motivation and the fact that some of the employees have been with the company for decades.
According to the company’s plans, the first 8,000 battery cells are to be manufactured in Redwitz next year. According to Dr. Wampers, Alumina Systems invested in another hall and new machines. The managing partner expressly thanked the CeraSalt® team, which now has ten members and is led by Dr. Kai Sauerzapfe. “With great commitment and a lot of know-how, you have laid the foundation for the success of the CeraSalt® project.”
The CeraSalt® battery stores electrical energy based on salt and nickel. This technology is very suitable for stationary applications due to its limited charging and discharging rates. The CeraSalt® batteries are characterized by a high level of safety: Due to their design, they cannot burn or explode. In addition, CeraSalt® batteries can be manufactured in an extremely sustainable manner: the raw materials required are not critical in terms of global availability. This means that the batteries are almost 100% recyclable.
The areas of application for stationary energy storage are very diverse. They range from single-family homes with photovoltaic systems to solar and wind parks to large-scale solutions in industry or for emergency power supplies for important infrastructure facilities (hospitals, authorities).
The CeraSalt® team with Emmi Zeulner, Member of Parliament (2nd from right), Dr. Kai Sauerzapfe, Head of Battery Systems (5th from right) and Dr.-Ing. Holger Wampers, Managing Partner (5th from left).
