Faraday Institution
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| Faraday Institution | |
|---|---|
| Name | Faraday Institution |
| Formation | 2017 |
| Type | Research institute |
| Status | Active |
| Purpose | Battery science and energy storage research |
| Headquarters | Harwell, Oxfordshire |
| Location | United Kingdom |
| Region served | United Kingdom |
| Leader title | Director |
| Leader name | Professor Pam Thomas |
| Parent organization | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council |
Faraday Institution The Faraday Institution is a UK-based independent research institute established in 2017 focused on advanced lithium-ion battery research, solid-state battery development, and materials discovery for energy storage. It operates as a national hub connecting academic universities, industrial companies, and policy institutions, coordinating applied science, translational research, and skills development. The institute works closely with major research councils and innovation agencies to accelerate commercialization of battery technologies and to inform national strategy on electrification and transport.
Overview
The institute was launched with funding from the UK Research and Innovation portfolio and strategic support from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and is located at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire. Its remit includes fundamental materials science, cell-scale engineering, lifecycle analysis, and workforce training, aligning with initiatives such as the UK Automotive Council electrification roadmaps and regional development plans like those pursued by the West Midlands Combined Authority. Leadership has engaged with bodies including the Carbon Trust, the Royal Society, and the UK Department for Business and Trade to align research priorities with industrial needs. Early strategic reports referenced collaborative models seen at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and at European consortia such as the Batteries Europe partnership.
Research Programs
Research themes encompass battery chemistry, multiscale modelling, degradation mechanisms, recycling science, and manufacturing scale-up. Program portfolios have explored cathode chemistries related to NMC 811 and alternative cathode materials studied at institutions like University of Oxford and Imperial College London. Work on anode materials intersects with research by groups at University of Cambridge and University College London, while solid electrolyte projects have ties to teams at University of Manchester and University of Sheffield. Multiphysics modelling efforts draw on collaborations with computational hubs such as Daresbury Laboratory and STFC facilities. Degradation and safety programs reference standards developed by SAE International and testing protocols used by Tesla and Toyota battery research centers. Recycling and circular economy research connects to projects with the Metropolitan University of London and industrial partners including Johnson Matthey and Umicore.
Funding and Governance
The institute’s funding structure combines public investment and industry contributions, with governance overseen by a board including representatives from academic partners, industry stakeholders, and funding agencies like UK Research and Innovation and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Strategic reviews have coordinated priorities with the Science and Technology Facilities Council and sectoral advisory groups such as the Automotive Council and Society of Chemical Industry. Major industrial funders and collaborators have included bp, Gotion, Envision AESC, and battery manufacturing consortia tied to entities like Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings. Financial oversight and audit procedures reference frameworks used by institutions such as the Wellcome Trust and EPSRC programmes.
Facilities and Infrastructure
Core facilities are sited at Harwell and leverage shared capabilities at the Diamond Light Source, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, and the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. The institute maintains cell fabrication lines for coin, pouch, and cylindrical prototypes, analytical laboratories for spectroscopy and microscopy comparable to those at Max Planck Institutes, and accelerated ageing chambers akin to facilities at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Access arrangements enable secondments and joint appointments with university host laboratories including University of Warwick and University of Southampton. High-performance computing resources for materials informatics are integrated with national compute infrastructures such as ARCHER and regional supercomputing centers connected to UKCRIC-affiliated facilities.
Industry and Academic Partnerships
The Faraday Institution operates collaborative programmes with a wide array of industrial partners, original equipment manufacturers like Nissan, battery suppliers such as CATL, and materials firms including BASF and 3M. Academic consortia include leading universities—University of Bath, University of Leeds, University of Leicester, University of Glasgow—and specialized research centres such as the Electrochemical Innovation Lab and the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre. Partnerships extend to international research bodies including the European Commission research frameworks and bilateral links with the US Department of Energy national laboratories. Training and skills initiatives are delivered in collaboration with professional bodies like the Institute of Physics and the Royal Academy of Engineering.
Impact and Contributions
The institute has contributed to advances in electrode formulation, lifetime modelling, and recycling pathways, influencing policy dialogues at the Committee on Climate Change and industrial strategy documents from the Department for Transport. Outputs include open datasets, standards proposals submitted to organisations such as International Electrotechnical Commission working groups, and translational projects that de-risk manufacturing for partners including Siemens and Rolls-Royce. It has supported doctoral and postdoctoral cohorts linked to centres of excellence at University of Oxford and Imperial College London, and fostered spin-outs and licensing deals with technology ventures connected to Oxford Sciences Innovation and regional innovation ecosystems like OxLEP. The institute’s work contributes to national decarbonization goals articulated alongside agencies such as National Grid ESO and remains central to UK efforts in battery innovation and deployment.