Energy Storage

The field of battery energy storage is set to grow significantly over the coming years. The question that incumbents, raw materials suppliers, end users, and innovators are all asking themselves is whether Li-ion batteries will keep the lion's share of the market, or whether disruptive innovation will drive technology diversification according to applications.

Raghu Das, CEO, IDTechEx, gives an overview in the lead up to the event. The exhibition runs alongside the conference tracks and takes place on 10-11 May in Berlin, Germany. It will showcase over 200 exhibiting companies from 61 countries, many demonstrating the technologies in action.

The new IDTechEx report, "Airborne Wind Energy (AWE) 2017-2027" finds that making electricity by flying kites and the like can potentially address two very different opportunities: kill diesel or kill wind turbines.

FDK Corporation and Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd have announced that they have jointly developed lithium cobalt pyrophosphate, which has high energy density, for the cathode material of all-solid lithium-ion batteries.

BioSolar Inc, a developer of breakthrough energy storage technology and materials, has further described its plan to help drive down the cost of lithium-ion batteries.

In November 2015, the research group presented results showing that they had caused roses to absorb a conducting polymer solution. Conducting hydrogel formed in the rose's stem in the form of wires. With an electrode at each end and a gate in the middle, a fully functional transistor was created.

IDTechEx Analyst Dr David Pugh interviewed Brian Lakamp, Founder and CEO of Totem Power ahead of the launch of their smart lighting and charging solutions in the summer of 2017.

Researchers may have just found a solution for one of the biggest stumbling blocks to the next wave of rechargeable batteries — small enough for cellphones and powerful enough for cars.

A new type of battery developed by scientists shows promise for sustainable, high-power energy storage. It's the world's first battery to use only hydronium ions as the charge carrier.

Researchers have created a high performance anode material for lithium-ion batteries using waste silicon sawdust.

Stationary energy storage can prove to be the Cinderella of battery markets. From the 25th to the 27th January around 300 stakeholders in the battery business gathered in Berlin to discuss why is Germany not building its own gigafactories yet. The fifth edition of Batterieforum Deutschland, the prime event organised to foster a Li-ion battery ecosystem in Germany, took place at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel near Potsdamer Platz, with three topics as the main sources of engagement for the attendees: battery manufacturing in Germany, advanced Li-ion chemistries, and stationary storage. The event was organised by KLiB, a public-private partnership of the German government and some national battery stakeholders. In this premium article, we will focus on stationary storage.

Because the sun doesn't always shine, solar utilities need a way to store extra charge for a rainy day. The same goes for wind power facilities, since the wind doesn't always blow. To take full advantage of renewable energy, electrical grids need large batteries that can store the power coming from wind and solar installations until it is needed.

The size of the battery is so thin (2-3 millimeters) that it is a prime candidate for use in microsatellites, including CubeSats.

Lithium-ion batteries have become essential in everyday technology. But these power sources can explode under certain circumstances and are not ideal for grid-scale energy storage. Sodium-ion batteries are potentially a safer and less expensive alternative, but current versions don't last long enough yet for practical use.

Wearable electronics are here — the most prominent versions are sold in the form of watches or sports bands. But soon, more comfortable products could become available in softer materials made in part with an unexpected ingredient: green tea.

Things will have to change in order that they remain the same (i.e., Li-ion batteries are here to stay). From the 25th to the 27th January around 300 stakeholders in the battery business gathered in Berlin to discuss battery innovation in Germany. The fifth edition of Batterieforum Deutschland, the prime event organised to foster a Li-ion battery ecosystem in Germany, took place at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel near Potsdamer Platz, with three topics as the main sources of engagement for the attendees: battery manufacturing in Germany, advanced Li-ion chemistries, and stationary storage. The event was organised by KLiB, a public-private partnership of the German government and some national battery stakeholders. In this premium article, we will focus on battery chemistries.

ThyssenKrupp is a German conglomerate that has developed vanadium redox flow batteries which can be integrated into its steel-making business. In this background profile, Dr Lorenzo Grande covers their activities.

RedFlow is an Australian company developing zinc/bromine flow batteries for stationary applications. IDTechEx Analyst Dr Lorenzo Grande covers background information in this company profile.

Schmid Group is a German conglomerate which is active in the vanadium redox flow space with their EverFlow containers.

Primus Power is a Northern California-based producer of zinc/bromine flow batteries. They patented a single flow loop design that eliminates the membrane in the electrode stack.