Energy Storage

As part of the report Solid-State and Polymer Batteries 2019-2029: Technologies, Patents and Forecasts, IDTechEx undertook an analysis of the patent landscape of solid state electrolytes (SSE). Within this premium article, a highlight of the results of this analysis are shared and discussed.

AES India has started construction on India's first utility-scale energy storage system, a 10 megawatt solution that will serve the electric grid.

The Chinese government shrewdly controls supply and demand for sectors it deems important. As elsewhere it has to cope with people moving to cities.

Hydrogen researchers are involved in a large European project on hydrogen storage. The goal is to develop a novel prototype tank that will store at least 50 kilograms of hydrogen in a minimum space. The European Union is funding the project with €2 million in the frame of the "Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking - FCH JU". Some €150,000 are earmarked for the Helmholtz researchers.

As their name suggests, such multifunctional structural materials simultaneously carry out two or more functions that would normally have to be addressed separately. For example, a structural role might combine with optical, electrical, magnetic or thermal properties. In some cases, entire complex devices can be built either within or from the primary structural material.

Zircotec are a company that specialise in thermal barrier coatings with recent emerging applications in electric vehicle enclosures. Technical director Simon Hiiemae spoke with senior technology analyst Dr Richard Collins.

Redflow ZBM2 zinc-bromine flow batteries are now storing solar energy to provide a reliable power supply for a remote village in mountainous northern Thailand that has long lacked electricity.

Consider supercapacitor buses. CRRC of China has been quietly exporting them to Bulgaria, Israel, and Austria recently and its own supercapacitor manufacturers now make good products and plan 30% cost reduction within 3 years.

On behalf of the Australian Government, The Australian Renewable Energy Agency has announced $6 million in funding for Australia's first energy storage project using compressed air.

IDTechEx will be hosting a free webinar on Thursday 7 March titled Electric Vehicles in Construction, Agriculture and Mining: Over $100 bn Market Emerging.

Bad strategy rather than tactics, such as misjudged new models, will kill several major automotive companies. They face a perfect storm of peak car, totally new technology, totally new markets and recession.

A research group has made great, rapid strides towards the development of a specially designed molecule which can store solar energy for later use.

The sixth Energy Storage India (ESI) took place in New Delhi on January 10 - 11, 2019, at the Ashok Hotel.

Aerospace and defence are key drivers for many new technologies. They often have the deepest pockets and are the most likely to adopt the newest technologies.

Research has found that Australia is installing renewable power per person each year faster than any other country, helping it to meet its entire Paris Agreement emissions reduction targets five years early.

American Manganese Inc commences testing of lithium-ion battery materials recycling pilot plant.

OXIS Energy is growing exponentially as several significant companies want to fund the latest lithium sulfur battery technology.

We have been following the graphene industry as analysts for the past seven years. The results of our ongoing research can be seen in our report on Graphene, 2D Materials and Carbon Nanotubes: Markets, Technologies and Opportunities 2018-2028. In this time, we have seen the industry grow in maturity.

Batteries are currently outpacing fuel cells in the technological race to power the electric vehicle. Lithium batteries keep getting cheaper, while fuel cells remain hampered by pricey, short-lived platinum catalysts. Researchers suggest that adding a bit more platinum—albeit in a novel form—could help fuel cell cars catch up.

It is a rule-of-thumb that manufacturers should vertically integrate only when products and markets mature, so they can confidently shave off the last pennies of cost. One exception is when shortages loom: Tesla built its battery gigafactory fast using proven Panasonic technology. However, many suppliers now build battery gigafactories.