Space Zoo Patrol – Future Batteries (Lithium-Ion)

By The American Clean Power Association

Background

What is this technology called?
- Battery storage
How does it work?
- Battery storage is an exciting new technology that allows us to store energy to use at another time. Energy storage lets us power the electric grid using solar and wind energy, even when the sun is down at night or the wind is not blowing.
- Electrochemical energy storage is the most common and fastest-growing form of energy storage. This approach uses batteries, which store and discharge electricity through chemical reactions. The most common technology for energy storage is lithium-ion batteries, but there are several other options as well.
Who invented it? And when and where?
- Italian scientist Alessandro Volta invented the modern battery in 1800 at the University of Pavia, Italy. His discovery led to the field of electrochemistry, and the volt – a unit of electric potential – was named in his honor.

Advantages

What are the environmental advantages?
- Energy storage is critical to an efficient, clean electric grid. It enables us to produce clean energy when it’s abundant, store it, and put it back into the electricity grid when needed. Just as refrigeration changed how people consumed food, energy storage can revolutionize how we use energy. Energy storage also protects people from electrical blackouts by providing backup power during an emergency.
What are the life cycle financial advantages?
- By charging the battery with low-cost energy during periods when renewable energy is abundant (when the sun is shining and the wind is blowing) and releasing it during periods of high energy demand, battery storage can reduce waste and maximize the value of the energy developers can sell to the market. [source]
What jobs are created?
- Battery storage creates jobs for materials scientists, electrochemists, cell design engineers, cell test technicians, cell assembly technicians, mechanical design engineers, manufacturing process development engineers and manufacturing technologists.

Energy Production

How efficient is this technology?
- Battery storage technology is typically around 80% to more than 90% efficient for newer lithium-ion devices.
How many units are needed for 1 house, 1 school, 1 community?
- Battery capacity is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), and most battery systems can be scaled depending on the energy needs of the user. For the average home, the most economical battery size is 6kWh to 10kWh. Larger batteries can be used to power communities and are usually owned and operated by utilities.
What percentage of total energy usage (US) does this technology provide today?
- Battery storage systems are increasingly being used across the power grid in the United States. U.S. battery storage has jumped from just 59 MW (megawatts) in 2010 to 4,588 MW in 2021.
What percentage of total energy usage (US) could this technology provide?
- By 2050, when 94% of electricity comes from renewable sources, approximately 930 GW (gigawatts) of energy storage power will be needed to fully cover demand for electricity in the United States. [source]
What geographical areas can this be used in?
- Wind and solar resources are best located in places where there are ample amounts of wind and sunshine, but batteries can go practically anywhere.

Engineering / Mechanical

How is it manufactured? Where is it manufactured?
- Some of the largest manufacturers are NextEra Energy, Toshiba, Tesla, General Electric, and Siemens. China is the largest manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries, followed by other countries including Australia, Chile, and Argentina.
What maintenance is required?
- Batteries work best between 15 and 35 °C and may require ongoing maintenance, such as weekly cleaning and testing.
What classes should I take in school to work on this technology?
- Any STEM type class would be beneficial to this industry, especially electrical or mechanical engineering.

Pictures

Links

American Clean Power Association www.cleanpower.org