Tesla Powerwall sparks scores of potential battery breakthrough announcements
By Jack Ward, CEO of Soltra Energy
Without doubt, the Tesla Powerwall
represents a huge step forward in energy storage as it has lowered the price
point of lithium-ion battery technology through mass production, based on the
demand in the electric vehicle sector in which Tesla is a major player.
Now, this technology will be used to
complement domestic and industrial solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and address
time-of-day billing constraints, among many other applications.
The announcement that Tesla will be mass-producing
lithium-ion batteries at its new Gigafactory fabrication and assembly plant has
sparked numerous news stories highlighting other potential breakthrough
technologies that may one day rival Tesla’s eagerly anticipated offering.
For example, researchers at an American
university have unveiled a ‘solar air’ battery that integrates lithium-iodine
and solar cell technologies. They say the concept may present guidelines that
could be extended to other metal-redox battery systems which could herald a
potential breakthrough for low-cost, grid-scale energy storage.
Scientists at the University of
California have created a solar cell design that allows energy to be stored for
fairly long periods. These cells, which mimic natural photosynthesis, are
plastic and use polymers and nano-scale fullerenes (hollow carbon molecules)
arranged in a manner that resemble ‘small bundles of uncooked spaghetti with
precisely placed meatballs’ -according to a source close to the researchers.
A joint Swedish/American team has come
up with ‘an elastic foam-like’ battery material that can withstand shock and
stress. This nano-cellulose-based material is made from tree fibres and can
pack a surface area equivalent to the size of a rugby field into a single cubic
decimetre – the equivalent of one litre. Watch for this battery material to be
incorporated into roofing, car bodies and even clothing.
Perhaps surprisingly, melanin, the human
skin pigment or colouring is being tested for its potential in energy storage.
Backed by a sizable grant from the US Department of Environmental Conservation,
research is encouraging, hinting at the possibility of cheaper, safer batteries
with lower environmental impact in the future.
Finally, a battery solution from left-field
comes from Chinese and German scientists who have found that reed leaves might
hold the key to the production of better silicon anodes (electrodes) for
lithium-ion batteries. As a bonus, the reed leaves option is less complicated
and expensive when compared to current anode production methods.
Low-cost stationary storage represents
the ‘holy grail’ for all renewable energy protagonists. As a result there is a
significant focus on achieving this goal through diverse R&D projects. Watch
this space, as the next game-changer could be announced soon.
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