Energy Storage

Researchers have designed a new class of molten sodium batteries for grid-scale energy storage. Molten sodium batteries have been used for many years to store energy from renewable sources, such as solar panels and wind turbines.

Mercedes-Benz is getting ready to go all electric by the end of the decade, where market conditions allow. Shifting from electric-first to electric-only, the car company is accelerating toward an emissions-free and software-driven future.

Group14 Technologies are a US-based company developing silicon anode material for Li-ion batteries. IDTechEx spoke with Group14 Technologies CEO, Rick Luebbe.

Unused energy trapped within bridges is to be harvested in a major new international project. Traffic and wind regularly cause low frequency vibrations to ripple through bridge building materials such as steel and concrete. This energy would normally travel away from its source before dissipating but academics have recognised an opportunity. They intend to capture and recycle this untapped source by using the principles of physics.

A more value-added approach to repurposing redundant fossil fuel assets such as coal mines and power stations is available.

When fully operational, the Western Green Energy Hub could produce up to 50 gigawatts of hybrid wind and solar power over 15,000-square-kilometres in South-East Western Australia.

Trina Storage was launched in 2021, as a separate business unit from parent solar PV company Trina Solar, to serve the growing market for grid-connected energy storage. IDTechEx spoke with Jan Schoene, Head of Product, Overseas Storage.

Several companies have initiated a "Responsible Lithium Partnership" aiming to work towards responsible natural resource management, including lithium, in Chile's Salar de Atacama.

Thursday 22 July 2021 - Shifting Thermal Management Strategies. Thermal management of electric vehicles is a key consideration for range, performance, lifetime and safety of EVs. There are several key trends within the EV market, several of which will change the materials, designs and markets for thermal management.

The Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) has been the first redox flow battery to be commercialized and to bring light to the flow battery technology. In the latest update of the IDTechEx report, "Redox Flow Batteries 2021-2031", a substantial forward-looking approach has been assumed in forecasting the trend of adoption of this technology, with a multi-billion market size in 2031.

Aggreko, has partnered with R&A to deliver a renewable power solution at the 149th Open Championship at Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich, England. The hybrid system will reduce carbon emissions by up to 40% compared to the previously used fossil fuelled systems.

Calyos specialises in two-phase cooling solutions. IDTechEx interviewed Ben Sutton to discuss their proprietary loop heat pipe technology for various market applications.

DuPont has a wide portfolio of thermal management and structural materials for EV batteries. Dr James Edmondson from IDTechEx interviewed DuPont to find out more about their portfolio and several applications in the EV market.

This IDTechEx premium article examines the technologies and trends in thermal management for EV charging.

Both Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) and high-nickel chemistries Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) and Nickel Cobalt Aluminium (NCA) are currently being installed in heavy-duty electric vehicles. IDTechEx look at the determining factors for battery chemistry choice in this market and highlight regional differences in deployment of different battery technologies.

Here come 600-mile electric cars and they will grab market share even as city cars. At last, you will be able to buy a car that lets you vacation in it wherever you wish.

In immersion cooled battery systems, the cells themselves are in direct contact with the cooling fluid. In order to avoid electrical shorting, the fluids must be dielectric. The fluid is then typically pumped through the pack and a heat exchanger to remove the excess heat.

A round up of the developments and news in advanced battery technology in 2021

The project consisted of the implementation of the Special Protection Scheme system and the hybrid Battery Energy Storage System located at the Bystra Wind Farm in northern Poland and started the full-scale operation gradually. These systems will be used continuously for enhancing the management of Polish power grid.

Solaris Bus & Coach, part of the CAF Group, is one of Europe's foremost bus and trolleybus manufacturers. With growing electric bus sales and a developing fuel cell bus business, they are a leading OEM in the European zero-emission bus market. In June 2021 IDTechEx Technology Analyst David Wyatt spoke with Solaris' Mateusz Figaszewski, E-mobility Development and Market Intelligence Director.