Fraunhofer and the University of Connecticut have signed a contract for the establishment of the new research facility Fraunhofer Center for Energy Innovation CEI. Located at the University of Connecticut, it is to develop advanced technologies related to energy storage, fuel cells, in-stream hydro, power management and distribution through contract research.

To develop highly efficient and cost-effective energy conversion and storage systems, the research will concentrate on modern functional materials such as metals, ceramics, micro- and nanostructures, as components for fuel cells and electrolyzers. On the UConn campus, components and subsystems are validated and integrated into flexible microgrid architectures. New methods of membrane and catalyst preparation will be developed, particularly for energy-efficient biofuel production.

CEI will closely cooperate with the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS, the Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems CSE, the UConn Center for Clean Energy Engineering, and the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection.
Dr. Prabhakar Singh is the director of the new center.

• Fraunhofer USA, Inc., Plymouth, MI, USA
• Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS, Dresden and Hermsdorf, Germany
• Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems CSE, Boston, USA
• Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection DEE, CT, USA
• University of Connecticut (UCon), Storrs, CT, USA