Using solar energy stored in cement batteries to power cathodic protection of reinforced concrete structures (CEMBAT)

This project aims to develop cement batteries that store photovoltaic solar energy to provide a constant electrical current to power cathodic protection for reinforced concrete structures. Cathodic protection is a powerful technique to limit the effects of steel reinforcement corrosion. Such corrosion leads to costly regular upgrading. However, as cathodic protection requires a constant electrical supply, day and night, it is often powered by non-environmentally friendly diesel generators. A cement battery will be conceived and developed that can be integrated into the structure with a photovoltaic cladding that provides an environmentally sustainable power supply to recharge the cement battery.

Project Contact: Dr. Niall Holmes niall.holmes@dit.ie