H2IF supports Sunergy’s Innovation Fund proposal for the industrial scale-up of nickel–zinc batteries
In April 2026, the H2IF project supported the submission of its first Innovation Fund proposal under the small-scale call. The selected applicant was Sunergy, a French SME developing advanced rechargeable nickel–zinc battery technology for stationary energy storage. The proposal builds directly on results generated by the Horizon 2020-funded LOLABAT project and aims to move the technology from successful demonstration towards commercial and industrial deployment.
The proposed project, NICOLAS – NiZn Industrial Commercial Launching Solution, focuses on the development of a first-of-a-kind small-scale production line for nickel–zinc batteries in Europe. Sunergy’s technology has already been validated at TRL 5/6 through LOLABAT, where battery cells, modules and packs were manufactured and tested in several stationary energy storage applications. NICOLAS is designed as the next step in this innovation pathway, supporting the transition from pilot-scale production to a commercial product and an increasingly automated manufacturing process.
The project targets stationary applications such as renewable energy storage, grid services, backup power for critical infrastructure, data centres, industrial systems and other uses where safety, reliability and frequent cycling are essential. Compared with conventional lithium-ion batteries, nickel–zinc technology uses an aqueous electrolyte and does not present the same thermal runaway risks. It also avoids lithium and graphite, can rely on established European supply chains for nickel and zinc, and offers strong recycling potential.
The project is strongly rooted in previous European research investment. Through LOLABAT, Sunergy and its partners improved the cycle life and cost outlook of the technology and validated battery packs in several use cases, including grid management, smart buildings, industrial applications and the hybridisation of hydropower plants. NICOLAS seeks to convert these R&I achievements into an industrial and commercial opportunity, retaining key technology, know-how and intellectual property in Europe.
The proposal also contributes to broader EU priorities. By introducing a European alternative to dominant lithium-ion solutions, it can support the diversification and resilience of the battery value chain, strengthen strategic autonomy and facilitate the integration of renewable energy into the power system. Its manufacturing process is also expected to be simpler and less energy-intensive than lithium-ion production, notably because it does not require dry rooms or flammable organic electrolytes.
H2IF’s support to Sunergy illustrates the project’s wider mission: helping promising Horizon-funded innovations progress from research and demonstration towards investment readiness and market deployment. The NICOLAS submission is an important milestone in this process and a concrete example of how targeted proposal-development support can help European clean-tech innovators access the Innovation Fund and prepare for industrial scale-up.
