
MetSuperCap Project: Metrology for Static and Dynamic Characterization of Supercapacitors.
MetSuperCap objective is to establish a traceable, consistent and sound measurement and characterisation framework for both SuperCapacitors (SCs) and SCs modules.
SCs have lower specific energy than batteries and higher leakage but are better than batteries when is required:

This eco-friendly technology must be promoted and developed, also with the support of metrology.

Until the early 2000s, 300 μF was a huge capacitance for capacitors. Today, 300 F and 3000 F are common capacitances for SCs. Guidelines and traceability for high capacitances characterization needs to be developed.

Energy (storage) and e-mobility applications see the use of SCs, stand-alone or together with batteries.
Accurate laboratory characterization of SCs and the knowledge of their behavior in operation are important for the correct design of applications.

SCs operate at voltages of a few volts (typically around 3 V). Like batteries, SCs can be connected in series in modules. This reduces the module’s capacity compared to its component capacitors but increases its stored energy, power, and nominal voltage. The modules are used in storage systems such as UPS.
SCs mainly feature three technologies: 1) Electric Double Layer Capacitors (EDLCs – side picture), which involve electrostatic mechanism, i.e. reversible attraction of ions; 2) Pseudo SCs, which involve reversible and fast faradaic redox reactions for charge and 3) Hybrid SCs, which involve adsorption of ions and faradaic charge-transfer. In this last case, storage is electrostatic and electrochemical. MetSuperCap mainly focuses on EDLCs but without disregarding the other types.

The accurate simulation of the behavior of a supercapacitor (SC) and its control in an electronic system, cannot be achieved by a simple one-branch circuit. A correct simulation requires the use of more complex equivalent circuit models (ECMs) , with at least two or three branches. These equivalent circuits guarantee a good reproduction of the device’s behavior. The accuracy and effectiveness of the ECM must be better defined.


Determining the state of charge (SoC) and state of health (SoH) for SCs is a challenging issue, just like for batteries. Techniques related to rapid measurements and the use of electrical circuit models and machine learning are widely tested and the MetSuperCap project also wants to give its contribution.
SCs show an average life of 10 to 100 times the life of a battery, less or no use of metals such as Li, Mn, Co, Ni, no runaway effect. Therefore, their use should be favored and their increased diffusion in applications is desirable. Measurement science can improve the knowledge of these devices by providing reliable and traceable data for the design of storage systems in applications that use SCs or SCs with batteries.


