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LANZO Batteries adds the LEO RMS battery range to its portfolio.

On June 5th, the final delivery and presentation of the project took place, marking the transition of this technology from development to future commercialization.

CIDETEC Energy Storage has designed and validated a family of modular, scalable, and reliable batteries for small satellites and CubeSats, tailored to aerospace standards from 1U to 16U. This development represents a major step forward by introducing a standardized modular architecture, ready to meet the growing energy demands of commercial satellites.

The developed batteries form the basis of the new commercial LEO RMS range from CIDETEC’s spin-off, LANZO Batteries, with capacities ranging from 50 to 200 Wh, aimed at applications in low Earth orbit (LEO). This product family has been conceived with a strong market-oriented approach, incorporating key aspects of industrialization, scalability, and cost reduction from the design stage.

The concept is based on a modular architecture that enables different power and energy levels to be configured through the combination of modules, allowing adaptation to various missions without redesigning the entire system. This approach enhances flexibility, reduces integration times, and promotes standardization within the SmallSat ecosystem.

One of the project’s distinguishing elements has been the development of an advanced Battery Management System (BMS), designed in collaboration with EMXYS, with the goal of increasing battery reliability, robustness, and lifespan. This system features a hierarchical architecture composed of monitoring, control, and power management units, enabling:

• Detailed cell-level monitoring
• Advanced battery state diagnostics
• Fault tolerance through redundancy and module isolation
• Robust communication with the satellite platform

The design incorporates a COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf) component strategy with a “spin-in” approach, aligned with ESA guidelines, allowing the use of high-performance technologies from the terrestrial sector while maintaining the reliability requirements of the space environment.

The developed prototypes have been experimentally validated in the laboratory, reaching an advanced TRL 4, and have demonstrated performance under thermal, electrical, and mechanical tests representative of the space environment.

In addition, the project has defined a clear roadmap toward full qualification and commercial exploitation, including the development of flight models and future in-orbit validations, with the goal of achieving TRL 7 technological maturity levels and subsequent flight certifications.

At the same time, LANZO will lead the industrialization phase, transferring the developed design into scalable and automated manufacturing processes, with the aim of meeting the growing demand for batteries for satellite constellations.

With this milestone, LANZO Batteries strengthens its position as an emerging European supplier of energy storage systems for the space sector, offering a solution that combines modularity, scalability, and readiness for mass production, key factors for the new generation of SmallSat missions.

This activity was performed under a programme of, and funded by, the European Space Agency under Contract 4000145283/24/NL/KK.

Disclaimer: The view expressed therein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Space Agency

Naturklima hosts the third edition of the International Zirkular Bat Workshop, a leading event bringing together European experts to address the entire battery lifecycle in electric mobility.

Representatives from BMW, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, Cylib, EV Clinic, POEN Europe and Leitat will present the latest innovations in battery repair, remanufacturing, second-life applications and recycling.

José Ignacio Asensio: “The circular economy for batteries represents a strategic opportunity for industrial competitiveness, strategic autonomy and employment in Gipuzkoa.”

The Department of Sustainability of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, Naturklima and CIDETEC Energy Storage have held the third edition of the International Zirkular Bat Workshop at Naturklima, an event that has become firmly established as a leading forum for analysing the challenges and opportunities presented by the circular economy for batteries in Europe.

Entitled “The Battery Lifecycle in Electric Mobility: From Repair to Recycling”, the workshop brought together some of Europe’s leading companies, experts and technology centres working in electric mobility, energy storage and circular battery management.

Transport electrification is advancing rapidly, driven by decarbonisation targets and the expansion of renewable energy. This process is generating growing demand for batteries and, consequently, new challenges relating to access to critical raw materials, end-of-life battery management, and the need to develop more resilient and sustainable value chains.

Against this backdrop, the circular economy has become a key factor in ensuring Europe’s industrial competitiveness, reducing external dependency and strengthening strategic autonomy in an area regarded as essential to the continent’s future economic and technological development.

The Deputy for Sustainability and President of Naturklima, José Ignacio Asensio, opened the event. During his speech, he emphasised that:
“The ecological transition is not only an environmental necessity; it is also a strategy for competitiveness, resilience and economic security. When we speak about battery repair, remanufacturing, second-life applications or recycling, we are talking about industrial innovation, technological sovereignty and Europe’s ability to lead the strategic industries of the future.”

Asensio also stressed that:
“The circular economy is no longer simply an environmental tool; it has become a genuine industrial policy. Gipuzkoa has been committed to this model for years, promoting collaboration between companies, technology centres and public administrations in order to anticipate a transformation that will prove decisive for the competitiveness of our industry.”

Oscar Miguel, Deputy Director of CIDETEC Energy Storage, highlighted that:
“Having speakers of this calibre at the event places Gipuzkoa firmly on the map of the new mobility paradigm. CIDETEC’s 30 years of experience in battery development enables us to transfer valuable tools and knowledge to industry, helping companies address the challenges ahead.”

A Comprehensive Overview of the Battery Lifecycle

The third edition of the workshop focused on one of the sectors that best represents the progress of electrification: electric mobility. Throughout the day, participants explored the different stages of the battery lifecycle, from design and repairability to the recovery of strategic materials through advanced recycling processes.

The programme featured Franz Geyer, Director of Zero Emission Technologies at BMW, who presented the German company’s circularity strategy; Vanja Katić and Otto Behrend, founders of EV Clinic, who discussed the challenges of repairing electric vehicle batteries; and Sanguk Lee and Yohan Kim, representatives of POEN Europe, who shared their experience in battery remanufacturing and lifetime extension.

In addition, Didi Bostock, from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, provided a global overview of developments in the international lithium-ion battery recycling market, while Nils Steinbrecher, from Cylib, analysed the development of circular value chains in Europe from the perspective of industrial recycling. The programme concluded with a presentation by Ángel Manuel Escamilla, Principal Researcher at Leitat, who showcased innovations based on artificial intelligence and automation for the sorting, dismantling and efficient recovery of critical raw materials.

The presentations were followed by a panel discussion moderated by CIDETEC Energy Storage, during which participants examined the key technological, industrial and regulatory challenges that will shape the future of the sector.

Zirkular Bat: Building the Circular Battery Ecosystem

The workshop forms part of the Zirkular Bat initiative, promoted by the Department of Sustainability of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, Naturklima and CIDETEC Energy Storage to support the development of a specialised ecosystem centred on the circular economy for batteries.

The initiative aims to generate knowledge, foster collaboration between companies and scientific and technological stakeholders, and promote new industrial opportunities related to battery repair, reuse, second-life applications and recycling. Its ultimate goal is to strengthen the European value chain, reduce dependence on critical raw materials and contribute to the development of a more efficient, competitive and sustainable economy.

The organisation of this third workshop further reinforces Gipuzkoa’s position as a region committed to innovation, decarbonisation and the promotion of new economic activities linked to the energy transition and the circular economy.

The new CIDETEC Energy Storage building consolidates the Basque Country as a European benchmark across the entire energy storage value chain

CIDETEC Energy Storage today inaugurated its new state-of-the-art building at the MUBIL Electromobility Polo, in Eskuzaitzeta, an infrastructure with more than 7,000 m² that places the Basque Country among the leading European hubs in battery research, development and testing, covering the entire value chain, from materials to final testing and validation.

The new building, constructed with the support of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa and designed to meet real industry needs, houses advanced materials research laboratories, pilot plants and industrial scaling capabilities for different battery technologies, as well as nearly 500 m² of interconnected dry rooms. These infrastructures make it possible to work side by side with industry, especially with automotive OEMs and storage system manufacturers, supporting them from the earliest stages through to final product validation.

The event brought together authorities, representatives of the technological and industrial ecosystem, and executives from leading companies in the region and across Spain, reflecting the strategic and driving nature of this new infrastructure for the battery industry. Overall, the project has involved a total investment of more than €25 million, consolidating a long-term strategic commitment to energy storage and electric mobility.

During the inauguration ceremony, CIDETEC Director Javier Rodríguez highlighted the scale and trajectory of the project:

“This new building, which would not have been possible without the support of public institutions, represents the magnitude of the project we have built after nearly 30 years of work in the battery field. The technologies we develop at CIDETEC do not remain in the laboratory: today they are running in the buses we see every day, powering electric vehicles that are already a consolidated reality and are even flying in space.”

This close relationship with the industrial sector is also reflected in CIDETEC’s strategic commitment to creating spin-offs, aimed at transferring its technological developments to real applications. In the last two years, the centre has promoted, together with different industrial partners, CIDEcell, focused on battery production; LANZO Batteries, specialised in batteries for the space sector; OBS, focused on key battery components such as battery management systems (BMS); and Kudebatt, dedicated to battery recycling.

The event also featured remarks by the Director General of the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE), Miguel Rodrigo Gonzalo, who highlighted CIDETEC’s evolution and outlook in recent years:

“CIDETEC’s track record in recent years is a clear example of how applied research can generate real impact in industry. Its commitment to knowledge transfer and bringing technology to market is key to strengthening technological autonomy, the value chain and the competitiveness of the energy sector in Spain”.

For his part, the Basque Government’s Minister for Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability, Mikel Jauregi, highlighted the project’s impact at country level:

“With infrastructures such as this, we demonstrate that the Basque Country is prepared to tackle the challenge of electrification and the energy transition. We have advanced knowledge, technological capabilities and leading energy companies to compete at the highest level, always through public-private collaboration”.

The inauguration also included the participation of the Provincial Deputy of Gipuzkoa, Eider Mendoza, who highlighted the territory’s role in generating strategic capabilities linked to sustainable mobility and energy storage.

“The inauguration of this new building reinforces the Provincial Council’s commitment to consolidating the MUBIL Polo as a strategic electromobility hub of European reference, capable of generating opportunities, talent and strategic projects for Gipuzkoa. It is an industrial commitment based on collaboration and a forward-looking vision, through which we aim to generate new activity and new jobs”.

With this new infrastructure, CIDETEC Energy Storage reinforces its role as a key technological partner for European industry, contributing to the development of safer, more efficient and more sustainable battery technologies.

On March 10, a dedicated session will exclusively feature CIDEcell, LANZO Batteries, OBS and Kudebatt, along with the Proteo software platform.

BEPA (Battery European Partnership Association) will hold a new edition of its Battery Startups Lunch series on March 10, from 12:00 to 13:15 CEST, in an online format. This session will be exclusively dedicated to CIDETEC Energy Storage and the technology spin-offs created by the center in recent years, reflecting its strong strategy for knowledge transfer and technology valorization in the battery field.

During the session, speakers will present the technologies, industrial capabilities, and opportunities that each spin-off brings to the European battery ecosystem. CIDETEC’s strategic commitment to bringing technology to market has materialized in the creation of CIDEcell, LANZO Batteries, and OBS, dedicated respectively to cell manufacturing, batteries for the aerospace sector, and advanced battery components—the latter in partnership with the MAIER Group. In addition, KUDEBATT has recently been launched, a spin-off founded together with HONDANER, focused on lithium-ion battery recycling and reuse.

The session will also showcase the development of the Proteo battery modeling software, also developed by CIDETEC Energy Storage.

The webinar will bring together key representatives from CIDETEC Energy Storage and its spin-offs:

• Oscar Miguel, Deputy Director of CIDETEC Energy Storage
• Idoia Urdampilleta, CEO of CIDEcell
• Jesús Monforte, CEO of OBS
• Jesús Marcos, CEO of LANZO Batteries
• Héctor Olabe, CEO of Kudebatt
• Elixabete Ayerbe, Business Development Manager at CIDETEC Energy Storage, presenting the Proteo platform

Participation in the webinar is free of charge and registration is now available through this link

The initiative, funded by CDTI, brings together leading technology centres to develop advanced solutions for forecasting, distributed control and intelligent operation of electricity networks.

CIDETEC Energy Storage participates as a key member in the new R5DES network of excellence, a technological R&D&I project promoted by the CDTI Cervera Network and led by the Instituto Tecnológico de la Energía (ITE). The other members forming part of the network are Tekniker, Ikerlan and Centro Tecnológico ITG, creating a highly complementary ecosystem of capabilities in energy, digitalisation and innovation for electricity networks.

R5DES takes its name from the five pillars of the energy system of the future:
Efficient distribution, distributed energy, digitalisation, flexible demand and decarbonisation, and is framed within the Energy 5D strategy: Digital, Distributed, Decarbonised, Decentralised and Dynamic.

The objective of this project is to drive new capabilities and technologies that improve the operation of electricity networks in the face of critical events, growing new energy demands and the expansion of decentralised generation. R5DES will therefore help strengthen the resilience, flexibility and sustainability of the Spanish electricity system, consolidating the adoption of advanced technologies and enhancing sector competitiveness.

In addition, the network’s strategic plan is structured around axes such as the creation of high-level scientific capabilities, advanced training, technology transfer and the international positioning of the participating centres. The kick-off meeting held at ITE marked the official start of activities, identifying synergies and opportunities for the next three years of implementation.

CIDETEC’s contribution to R5DES:

CIDETEC Energy Storage will contribute advanced capabilities in storage, digital modelling and techno-economic analysis, reinforcing its strategic role in the energy transition. Specifically, CIDETEC will:

• Increase its capabilities in predictive digital modelling of degradation in storage systems and electrolysers through digital twins and advanced estimators.
• Develop sizing tools and demand and generation forecasting models based on Machine Learning to optimise the location of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs).
• Validate battery SOC/SOH estimators under real conditions using HIL environments.
• Contribute to the development of Energy Management Systems (EMS) integrating storage and renewables within multi-energy schemes.
• Strengthen energy market analysis and the assessment of economic vulnerabilities of large consumers.
• Advance regulatory and techno-economic assessment of storage, including LCOS metrics, identifying barriers and proposing solutions.
• Provide expertise in the design of replicable business models in aggregation and flexibility, with a focus on scalability and sustainability.

The project is funded by CDTI and supported by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities under file reference CER-20251021.