Lithium-ion batteries dominate both EV and storage applications, and chemistries can be adapted to mineral availability and price, demonstrated by the market share for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries rising to 40% of EV sales and 80% of new battery storage in 2023.
Presently, as the world advances rapidly towards achieving net-zero emissions, lithium-ion battery (LIB) energy storage systems (ESS) have emerged as a critical component in the transition away from fossil fuel-based energy generation, offering immense potential in achieving a sustainable environment.
Despite the continuing use of lithium-ion batteries in billions of personal devices in the world, the energy sector now accounts for over 90% of annual lithium-ion battery demand. This is up from 50% for the energy sector in 2016, when the total lithium-ion battery market was 10-times smaller.
Chinese battery companies BYD, CATL and EVE Energy are the three largest producers of energy storage batteries, especially the cheaper LFP batteries. This month Rolls-Royce signed a deal with CATL to help deploy the company’s batteries in the EU and the UK.
And almost all of the growth came from lithium-ion batteries — the same as those used to power electric cars. Along with wind turbines and solar panels, shipping containers full of these batteries are set to become a more common sight in the future.
Lithium-ion batteries are devices that can store electricity in chemical form. They incorporate different metals and chemicals depending on what they are to be used for. They are very good at absorbing and releasing energy very quickly — think of the swift acceleration of an electric vehicle.