“LEPAE“ was created in 1997 by Carlos Costa“

” … to develop fundamental and applied knowledge in complex systems by using methodologies both
from the systems engineering and social sciences areas, like case study based research, and from
meso scale chemical engineering” Carlos Costa

LEPABE research lines:

Processes, Products and Energy
Process Systems Engineering
Supramolecular Assemblies
Biotechnology
Environmental Sciences and Technologies http://lepabe.fe.up.pt/
Processes, Products and Energy
Team
Assistant Researchers - 2
Post-Doc Researchers - 9
PhD Students - 14
Project Researchers - 12
External Researchers - 3
Project Managers/Supporting Staff - 4
Research Line Coordinator
(from 2008):
Full Professor (FEUP)
Adélio Mendes
Objectives
To integrate researchers devoted to fundamental
chemical engineering topics on processes and
products, with a special focus on energy. A
significant part of the R&D work is performed in
partnership with several national and international
companies, in a continuous effort to combine basic
and applied research, aiming at socio-economic
and sustainable development.
 Research areas

Harvesting sunlight Storing energy Synthetic fuels

Reaction and
Miscellaneous
separation processes

Ongoing Projects - 8
Batteries

“The project PowerFlow aims to develop energy storage solutions for the segments up to 500 kW,
with the integration of new battery technology (RFB) favoring integration with photovoltaic systems.
The project proposes to present a more rational, ecological and efficient storage, power conversion
and power management solution that will allow a reduction of the use of fossil fuels, and
consequent reduction of the carbon footprint.”

Solar Redox Cells

“The SunStorage project envisages to research and develop direct and efficient conversion of
sunlight into storable chemical and electrochemical fuels.
A particular highlight the project aims to achieve is the usage of a PEC device to convert
sunlight into electrochemical energy in a redox flow battery (RFB).”
DSC - Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

“The main goal of BI-DSC project is to contribute to an enhancement in the performance and
reliability of DSCs and solve the critical constrains that prevent their commercialization. Other
assumed objective of this project is to make DSCs the most desirable photovoltaic technology for
buildings.”

PSC – Perovskite Solar Cells

“The WinPSC project aims to the development of thin film photovoltaic cells, sensitized with
perovskites (PSC), making them more efficient and reducing manufacturing costs. Perovskite solar
cell technology is ideally positioned to meet the growing demand of energy from renewable
sources.”
 Eletroreduction of CO2
“Solar electroreduction of CO2 to CO and to MeOH when H2 and when H2O are supplied to
the anode and the design of an optimized system to convert sunlight into storable
electrochemical energy and thermal energy for residential applications.”

Fuel Cells

“Fuel cell technology has already proven to be superior to conventional technologies - diesel generators
or batteries - in these applications in terms of total cost of ownership (TCO). Cost-competitive PEMFC
power system compatible with crude bioethanol would allow direct use of easily transported and stored,
locally produced sustainable and low-emission fuel also in developing countries, further adding value and
increasing the number of potential applications and end-users for fuel cell and hydrogen technology.”
Glass Sealing

Photoeletrochemical Cells

“The use of photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells for water splitting is an emerging and promising technology
that transforms sunlight into storable H2 energy. However, hydrogen is difficult to store and to transport. As
such, the use of efficient PEC cells equipped with non-toxic single and tandem photoelectrodes (PE/PV)
coupled with an efficient RFB for converting solar into electrochemical energy is a disruptive approach,
proposed for the first time by a team member. A PEC panel installed in a residential building would be able
to harvest thermal and solar energies with very high overall energy efficiency.”
Industry Projects
WINPSC - Novos avanços tecnológicos para a terceira geração de células solares
sensibilizadas com perovskita
Reference: 17796
LEPABE coordinator: Adélio Mendes
Funding entity: Agência Nacional de Inovação S.A.
Funding program: P2020|COMPETE - Projetos em Copromoção
Start date: 01-01-2017 End date: 31-12-2019
Total funding: 1.136.922,10 € LEPABE funding: 583.013,63 €
Industry partners: EFACEC Engenharia e Sistemas, S.A.
Other partners: FEUP - Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto; Universidade do
Minho

PowerFlow: Desenvolvimento de Sistemas de Armazenamento de Energia

Reference: 3405
LEPABE coordinator: Adélio Mendes
Funding entity: Agência Nacional de Inovação S.A.
Funding program: P2020|COMPETE - Projetos em Copromoção
Start date: 01-09-2015 End date: 31-08-2018
Total funding: 1.501.354,00 € LEPABE funding: 512.968,00 €
Industry partners: Efacec Eletric Mobility, S.A.
Other partners: FEUP - Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto
Acknowledgements

PowerFlow
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