If you scroll through the pages under our history tab at the top of this page, you’ll recall how one electrochemistry design displaced another. Lead-acid chemistry is the only type that has continued on, regardless of changes around it. Lithium continues to dominate the market. But now we see signs of LDES storage challenging lithium in the renewable energy sector.
Two Types of Battery Storage Lithium Dominates
There are two main sectors in the battery market. The first of these targets consumer products, where the history of batteries began. Long duration energy storage (LDES) batteries are a more recent innovation, storing energy for the green economy.
Scientists from School of Economics and Finance, Xi’an Jiaotong University in China, published fascinating research on MDPI recently. Their report confirms that China increased its renewable energy capacity by 25% in 2024, taking it to 53% total generating capacity.
The variable nature of wind and solar energy, has necessitated a corresponding increase in long duration energy storage. Here, the possibilities include pumped hydro storage, battery storage (lithium-ion sodium-ion and flow), hydrogen storage, and compressed-air-energy storage too.
Lithium batteries still dominate the Chinese long duration energy storage market, as we write. However, there are early signs of LDES storage challenging lithium in the form of compressed-air and hydrogen energy storage, according to the research we referred to above.
LDES Challenging Lithium in North America Too
Bloomberg NEF provides strategic advice on disruptive technologies, shaping the green energy transition. They published a press release a year ago, that confirmed that LDES will ‘eventually out-compete lithium batteries’ in some markets.
Some new innovations are still too immature to predict them replacing lithium. However, there was evidence of more mature long duration LDES storage already challenging lithium a year ago. This was because those front runners were achieving longer storage durations, while costing less than lithium.
The pioneers in the Bloomberg NEF press release were flow batteries and compressed air technologies, echoing the situation in China. It is far too early to predict if lithium batteries will ever fade from the energy market. However, they may be on the back foot somewhat, as LDES assumes a more central role.
More Information
Long Duration Storage Batteries in Perspective
Long-Duration Energy Storage Versus Lithium
Preview Image: Vanadium-Flow Battery Farm
