A new promising defence-related project on Energy Storage Technology was launched by EDA at a kick-off meeting on 11 March. The so-called NEXTT project standing for “New Energy storage using compleX hydride Tanks for Thermoneutral systems”, was initiated by the European Defence Agency in the framework of the second Joint Investment Programme on Innovative Concepts and Emerging Technologies (JIP ICET 2).
The project’s objective is to develop a new energy storage system for hydrogen, using new materials and advanced tank solutions with the following targets: high gravimetric density for high mobility of the system; high volumetric density for compactness and practicability of the system; and optimized heat absorption leading to low heat losses and thus reduced thermal signature of the overall system.
Involving the full spectrum of R&T players
The NEXTT project demonstrates and reflects in an exemplary manner the key idea behind the JIP ICET 2 programme, namely to involve the full spectrum of entities in the R&T cycle, ranging from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) over research centres to big industry, as the end-user of the technology development. The NEXTT consortium is led by a small research subsidiary of an Austrian University (Forschungs- und Technologietransfer GmbH, FOTEC) with two major research centres (Fraunhofer IFAM, Germany, and Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives CEA, France), as well as an industrial end-user (DCNS Group, France) also participating. This bandwidth allows the consortium to cover all aspects of the targeted development from research in advanced materials and system integration up to the military application. The NEXTT project also promotes civil-military synergies and dual-use technologies as it aims to transfer technologies and knowledge already used by the space industry to the defence sector for further development. The launch of NEXTT completes the lists of projects which had been earmarked under JIP ICET 2 in view of fostering the development of new, innovative technologies that have potential to enable future military capabilities. JIP ICET 2 is managed and funded by Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden in the framework of the EDA.
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