The Hub of energy
Located at 15 rue Baudelocque, at the hearth of Amiens, the Hub aims to promote French research and technology transfer in the field of electrochemical energy storage (batteries and supercapacitors)
The Hub, what is it?
At the forefront of innovation, the Hub of Energy is a laboratory for basic research and preindustrial development. Our researchers are working on future batteries (sodium-ion, lithium-air, lithium-sulfur…) and on the improvement of current batteries (safety, production methods…). The Hub brings together all our expertise in the fields of electrochemistry, characterization, material science, upscaling, pre-prototyping, organic chemistry…
Who will take advantage of this building?
The Hub was built at the initiative of Prof. Jean-Marie Tarascon to seat RS2E (French initiative on the electrochemical energy storage). The CNRS and the French Ministry of Research to gather 17 CNRS/University laboratories, 15 industrials partners and 3 tech transfer centers (more) created the Network. The LRCS, one of the founder members, is housed in the building and makes it live through its researches. RS2E members from other laboratories and industrial partners are often welcomed for short or long-term stays.
“Hub” refers to the part connecting an axis to a wheel.
What does “Hub of Energy” mean?
“Hub” refers to the part connecting an axis to a wheel. This meaning of “connexion” is found in the expression “air hub”, place of encounters between passengers and planes. The meaning pleased us and it permits to highlight the interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of the Hub. The suffix “of Energy” recalls our main activity: To study and develop energy storage devices.
What equipment is used by the researches?
Thanks to its modernity, the Hub of Energy gathers in the same place scanning and transmission electron microscopes, XDR apparatus, prototyping line in dry room for 18650 cells, mass spectrometers, electrochemical cycler, glove boxes…
The Hub, an international symbol
Much of the early research on lithium-ion batteries due to French researchers (Jean-Marie Tarascon, Michel Armand, Claude Delmas, Christian Masquelier…). However, the production and marketing are now mainly Asian. The battle is fierce to invent and develop the future batteries: With a better autonomy, least expensive, ecological. Industrials such as Tesla and government are investing massively in the field of batteries. The creation of the RS2E in 2011 and the construction of the Hub in 2017 are our best assets to keep France in the race. It is also a chance for the local and regional economy boosting green economy and development in Hauts-de-France and Amiens.
What are the originalities of the building? The architectural firm Nickl & Partner designed the Hub with a strong focus on the environment. The building is composed of green roofs, large bay windows, low emissivity materials…
Who funded the Hub of Energy?
The building was funded up to 22 million by the Region Hauts-de-France with a strong support from the Picardie Jules Verne University, the French Ministry of Education, the Prefecture, the Department, Amiens Métropole, the Académie d’Amiens and the European fund FEDER.
