About

Pleione Energy S.A is an International Joint Venture between the Greek company ADAMANT COMPOSITES LTD (founded 2012) and the German company OMNIDEA-RTG Gmbh (founded 2014). The company was established in 2015 and is since based at the Technology incubator of the National Center for Scientific Research (NCSR) "Demokritos" in Athens, Greece. The Vision of Pleione Energy is to grow its position as an innovative company that develops and provides technological excellent applications for the energy and space sector. The main goal is to identify and synthesize leading edge technologies to industrial applications and products, maximizing their exploitation potential. Currently, the company focuses on the development, design and production of cost-effective products and applications for energy conversion, distribution and storage using enabling graphene technologies that can benefit both the industry and society at large. The primary application field is the design and development of advanced storage systems through application of nanotechnology in batteries, capacitors, fuel cells etc. Advanced materials and nanotechnology expertise, along with extensive research experience in the energy and aerospace sector, empowers the team behind the company to achieve technological breakthroughs.

Solution & Product

Graphene has the potential to deliver the next generation batteries, especially lithium-ion batteries, with improved performance, durability and safety at an acceptable cost. Pleione Energy through its participation in several industrial ESA projects has developed Graphene based lithium battery and supercapacitor cells for future energy storage systems. Currently both products have reached pre-commercial level having a working prototype in place.Also, an in-house pilot line has been established, where all the critical manufacturing parameters are carefully controlled and optimized. Another core product is the development of Grid-Connected Integrated Compact Hybrid Energy Storage System. Through our product, we give residents a way to conserve energy without sacrificing comfort and room space by incorporating energy storage devices within the dead space of their household. Our product is designed for safe and compact integration in building’s inert structural and sectioning elements. The product has 50% longer life cycle with decreased capacity fading of the storage cells. This has been achieved with the use of both supercapacitor and battery cells, as well as by providing load consumption patterns more efficiently to avoid deep discharge through high currents responsible for fast degradation. In addition, the system results in a 20% reduction of the electricity demands and the carbon emissions of building operations.

Innovation & Scalability

The company seek to take on the challenge of resolving environmental and energy issues that the society face today on a global scale through its products and systems. In this way, it aims to be recognized as a “Green Innovative Company” contributing to the realization of a prosperous society. Company’s strength lies in the following three areas: 1) a wide range of technological assets derived from previous activities; 2) team’s expertise in materials and production processes for developing innovative products for the space and energy sector; and 3) improvement culture taking root in every field, including R&D activities, production, quality management, etc. The existing team consists of highly experienced engineering and business professionals with experience and involvement in a series of international joint R&D space, aeronautics, and energy programs (ESA and EU activities). Currently the company is staffed with a 5-strong team of engineers and management, adding up >10yrs and >30yrs of cumulative experience in business and technical expertise respectively. The assembled team comprises 100% Dipl.-Ing. Of which 30% hold PhDs in the fields of advanced materials and composite structures. We are actively pursuing opportunities to collaborate with other companies, institutes, and industrial stakeholders in the fields of energy, IoT, smart cities, etc.

Traction & achievements

Within 6 years of establishment, Pleione managed to run in parallel several significant research and new products development activities and to deliver a portfolio of products for two core markets: the energy and space market. Through our participation in various industrial projects of the European Space Agency (ESA), we have developed two innovative nano-enabled based energy storage systems. Currently both products have reached pre-commercial level having a working prototype in place. 1.tGraphene based lithium battery and supercapacitors cells 2.tGraphene based structural adhesives enabled also for electrical and thermal control Additionally, we aspire to use the knowledge and insight gained through our participation in several ESA projects to develop smart innovative and marketable solutions to the ever-increasing issue of energy storage and efficiency for the Building Sector. Hence, we have developed a Grid-Connected Integrated Hybrid Energy Storage System that incorporates graphene-based energy storage cells in a cost-effective way. The development of the said product has gained further momentum since it was the winner of 2 start-up innovation competitions. Namely EU funded Kick Off Competition 2016 (2nd International prize, Warsaw, Sept 2016) and Innovation and Technology Competition of NBG’s Business Seeds (2nd International prize, Athens, January 2017).

Team & Why Us

Dr. Antonios Vavouliotis (CEO), is a Mechanical and Aeronautics Engineer and holds a Ph.D. (2009) in the field of composites from the University of Patras. He has a strong record of success delivering long-term growth strategies and top-notch technological expertise. Mr. N. M. Fernandes is the Vice-President of Pleione Energy and he has an Economics and Finance Degree from the Management School of UNL. He has also graduated the Engineering Faculty of Lisbon University and further holds a MSc in Mechanical Engineering. Ms. Zampia Kalogridi (COO), is a Mechanical and Aeronautics Engineer (University of Patras, 2007) and holds an MSc in Engineering Business Management, from Warwick University, UK. She has a wealth of experience in business development and in extensive sales, communication and commercialization strategies and solutions, having held high-level positions in the energy industry. Mr. A. Masouras (Materials and Process Engineer Expert), is a Mechanical Engineer (2010) and he is also a PhD student in his final year, working on the development of pre-form structures of CNT (buckypapers). He has involved in various ESA projects for the development of ‘Graphene-based systems for enhanced energy storage’. Mr. Alexandros Ntalagiannis (Electrical Engineer), is an Electrical and Computer Engineer, with specialization in Power Electronics and Power Electronics. Mrs. Ntorela Chotza (Junior Materials and Processes Engineer), is a Materials Engineer from University of Patras.

Funding Needs

Pleione is looking for funding to cover the R&D costs of the new products under development, and the costs for business activities expansion abroad. Moreover, we always welcome any new projects and collaboration opportunities, coming from either the public or the private sector, where we can co-create mutually beneficial synergies.