Wind and solar energy need batteries to ensure steady supply, so they can deliver electricity around the clock. However, those batteries are not without their problems, although science and human ingenuity are steadily ironing issues out. That said, there’s a distinct possibility these big battery problems could become one of the biggest challenges of this decade.
What Are the Big Battery Problems Ramping Up?
Renewables will remain just a useful accessory, until we can store sufficient energy in batteries for meaningful power generation. The two mountains to climb are meaningfully increasing capacity, while reducing cost. To do so we need to mitigate five challenges to stability that are holding us back:
- Our Distribution Networks Are Immature: Legacy grids work on the principle of large power stations delivering constant power. Operators are learning to adjust, although vested interests may make things difficult for new entrants.
- Battery Storage Technology Is Developing: Grid operators are driven in two directions. Do they want to store the greatest amount of energy, or deliver it at the highest possible rate? Some tender specifications exclude promising new technologies.
- Battery Material Recycling Is Evolving: Renon Power includes recycling on its list of big battery problems,and we believe they are spot-on. A battery’s revenue must exceed its life cycle cost. Finding second uses and recycling raw materials are becoming critical.
- Some Battery Chemistry Is Still Unstable: Batteries generate internal heat as they charge and discharge. This temperature increases as we demand more from their chemistry. We need to find a better balance between power and safety.
- The Distribution System is Conservative: Distributing electricity to consumers is an awesome responsibility, for our lifestyle depends on it. Grids have always erred on the conservative side, and so they should. But this does not mean they cannot factor in renewable storage.
We Must Solve These Issues To Move Forward
These big battery problems matter to manufacturers, consumers, and distribution grids. We have to adapt to renewable energy soon, or face the possibility of increasingly unpredictable weather.
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