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TRANSLATE Project Celebrates Major Research Milestone

28 Jan 2026
Lead author Rupa Ranjani Palanisamy, Tyndall National Institute/UCC School of Chemistry. Graphic: The rosette structure, which represents the formation of NiCoAl layered double hydroxide on nickel foam.

The TRANSLATE project, an ambitious initiative dedicated to transforming waste heat into clean, usable power, has reached a significant milestone as it concludes its research phase, which ran from June 2021 to November 2025.

One of its flagship research outputs has been published in the prestigious Journal of Materials Chemistry A, marking an important achievement for the consortium. 

TRANSLATE was a multidisciplinary collaboration between partners across Europe including University College Cork (UCC), Technische Universität Darmstadt (Germany), University of Latvia (Latvia), and Cidete Ingenieros Sociedad limitada (Tenerife, Spain). 

The consortium’s recent publication, “Additive Free CoLean Ternary NiCoAl/Ni Foam Electrode for HighEfficiency Energy Storage and LowGrade Heat Harvesting”, is led by PhD researcher Rupa Ranjani Palanisamy (Tyndall National Institute and UCC School of Chemistry), with co-authors Dr. Kafil M. Razeeb, Anjali Ashokan and Dr. Subhajit Biswas. 

This research presents a sustainable and scalable framework for developing next‑generation electrodes designed for both high‑efficiency energy storage and low‑grade heat harvesting which is a critical frontier for clean energy innovation. 

Key features of the team’s new electrode technology include: 

  • Additive-free fabrication, reducing complexity and environmental impact 
  • Cobalt-lean design, significantly more sustainable than conventional rare‑earth‑based technologies 
  • Exceptional energy, power and stability performance at low temperatures at levels not previously reported for similar devices 

By avoiding scarce or environmentally intensive materials while maintaining top-tier performance, this work demonstrates a viable pathway toward cleaner, more cost‑effective energy systems. 

As TRANSLATE concludes, the consortium has released a series of public-facing assets capturing the project’s achievements and vision for the future of clean energy innovation. These resources highlight the collaborative, multidisciplinary approach that has driven TRANSLATE’s success, bringing together materials science, engineering, sustainability, and industry-focused innovation. 

Find out more about the project in the video here

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