Moritz Gutsch from Helmholtz Institute Münster Wins Dr Andreas Dombret Doctoral Prize
Moritz Gutsch was awarded the Dr Andreas Dombret Doctoral Prize by the University of Münster School of Business and Economics for combining theoretical knowledge with concrete application in his dissertation
04 July 2024 – In his dissertation "Co-Assessment of Costs and Environmental lmpacts for Low and Negative Carbon Dioxide Technologies", Dr Moritz Gutsch from Helmholtz Institute Münster (HI MS; IMD-4) of Forschungszentrum Jülich developed methods for the combined assessment of costs, CO2 emissions and other environmental categories of lithium-ion batteries and direct air carbon capture systems. His contribution to the development of climate-friendly technologies has now been honoured with the Dr Andreas Dombret Doctoral Prize by the University of Münster School of Business and Economics. It is endowed with 2,000 euros.
Combined Assessment of Costs and Environmental Impact
Limiting climate change is a crucial challenge for our society for economic, ecological and social reasons. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) play a central role in the electrification of the mobility sector and the storage of renewable energy from wind power and photovoltaics (PV). However, the increasing demand for LIBs is creating new environmental challenges.
Gutsch therefore proposes developing and introducing several technologies at the same time. He presents direct carbon capture and storage in the air through "Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage" (DACS) – a promising technology in which CO2 is extracted from the ambient air and mineralised underground. It could (partially) offset current and reverse historical CO2 emissions.
In order to be able to make strategic decisions and improve technologies, Gutsch shows in his dissertation ways of evaluating the various technologies in terms of combined costs and environmental impact. In doing so, he provides a combined cost and life cycle assessment for the entire LIB value chain, from the synthesis of the active cathode material to cell production and recycling.
In addition, a combined cost and life cycle assessment is provided for an off-grid DACS powered by a PV system with LIB storage. The cost and environmental assessment will be used to select the optimal PV power and LIB storage capacity for the lowest cost or environmental impact.
Successful Combination of Theoretical Knowledge With Concrete Application
This also convinced the jury of the Dr Andreas Dombret Foundation under the umbrella of the Münster University Foundation. The prize of the same name is awarded once a semester for the dissertation that achieves an outstanding combination of theoretical knowledge and concrete application in economic and economic policy practice. The prerequisite is the evaluation of a dissertation accepted at the University of Münster School of Business and Economic with "summa cum laude". The faculty is responsible for selecting the award winners, who are chosen in close consultation with Prof Dr Dombret.
Dr Moritz Gutsch has published the results of his dissertation in two open access articles in the journals Communications Engineering and Applied Energy. Further information on the Dr Andreas Dombret Doctoral Prize can be found here.