• Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated India's first supercapacitor manufacturing facility at Keltron Component Complex Limited (KCCL) in Kalliasseri, Kannur.

• The supercapacitor manufacturing plant was developed in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and the Chief Minister expressed gratitude for ISRO’s role in this initiative. 

• The facility, with an initial investment of Rs 42 crore, is expected to boost Kerala’s status as a hub for electronics industries, while also supporting the country’s defence and electric vehicle sectors.

• The new facility will manufacture high-quality, indigenously made supercapacitors that have applications ranging from electric vehicles to space missions.

What are supercapacitors?

• Supercapacitors, also known as ultracapacitors, differ from traditional capacitors in several key aspects, ranging from their construction and materials to their capacitance values and applications.

• Supercapacitors are known for their ability to store and discharge energy faster than traditional batteries, making them essential in sectors such as defence, automotive, and aerospace.

• Main components of supercapacitors include electrode, electrolyte, separator, and the current collector.

• An electrode is a solid conductor through which an electric current enters or exits a medium, such as a non-metallic solid, liquid, gas, plasma, or vacuum. 

• Electrodes play a critical role in various applications like batteries, fuel cells, and electrochemical reactions.

Advantages of supercapacitors over lithium-ion batteries:

i) Faster charging and discharging: Supercapacitors can charge and discharge much more quickly than lithium-ion batteries, making them suitable for applications that require rapid energy transfer.

ii) Longer lifespan: Supercapacitors typically have a longer lifespan compared to lithium-ion batteries since they do not undergo chemical reactions during charge and discharge cycles.

iii) Greater reliability: Supercapacitors are less prone to thermal runaway and other safety issues compared to lithium-ion batteries, making them safer to use in certain applications.

iv) Environmental friendliness: Supercapacitors do not contain toxic materials like lithium-ion batteries, making them more environmentally friendly.

• However, there are also challenges associated with supercapacitors, such as lower energy density compared to lithium-ion batteries. Researchers are continually working to improve the energy density and other performance characteristics of supercapacitors to make them more competitive with lithium-ion batteries for a wider range of applications.

• Overall, the development of supercapacitors with the potential to replace lithium-ion batteries is a significant achievement that could lead to advancements in various fields, including transportation, electronics, and renewable energy.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)