Green, ethical, energy issues in the news

Martyn1981

More storage news, as the rate of deployment continues to grow fast.

BNEF has estimated that 92GW and 247GWh of energy storage, excluding pumped hydro, will be installed worldwide in 2025, a 23% increase in megawatt terms from the 2024 total of about 70GW and more than double the 44GW BNEF reported for 2023. Around 85% of additions this year will be grid-scale systems, the firm said.

Further growth of about 33% is expected next year, with BNEF predicting 123GW/360GWh of installations during 2026, and then around a 23% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in gigawatt terms between now and 2035.    

That 23% CAGR literally jumped off the screen, and sent me reaching for my calculator, and an eye popping potential 1TW of storage deployment p.a. in 2035(ish). Of course I should have just scrolled down as it's all there.

The article goes on to speculate at the changing technologies and potential for longer duration storage capturing more of the share.

Global energy storage deployments on track for record year in 2025, BNEF says

The latter part of this decade will see energy storage scale up in markets including India, Southeast Asia, Italy and Latin America and by the mid-2030s, BNEF forecasts cumulative installed capacity worldwide to reach 2TW/7.3TWh.

Whilst on the subject, and just for fun at the other end of the scale - thought I'd mention that sodium batteries are now being sold by Midsummer Energy. Not a recommendation, and atm the prices are no better than similar Li products. But I just thought it was worth mentioning as this technology has the potential of being significantly cheaper than Lithium, maybe half to one third the cost.

But it needs to scale first, and that requires huge investment, complicated (ironically) by the fact that Li batts are so cheap. But at least we know that in the long(er) term, storage costs will keep falling as we are still in the early days.

Netexporter

I think the huge advantage of sodium batteries is that they don't require heating, even outside, so their slightly lower energy density is balanced out by not having to squander some of their capacity on maintaining a suitable temperature.

I, too, was disappointed that they don't appear to offer any great price advantage at the moment. I'm sure some competitors will come along soon.

Martyn1981

Netexporter said:

I think the huge advantage of sodium batteries is that they don't require heating, even outside, so their slightly lower energy density is balanced out by not having to squander some of their capacity on maintaining a suitable temperature.

I, too, was disappointed that they don't appear to offer any great price advantage at the moment. I'm sure some competitors will come along soon.

If you (or anyone else) is interested, I've just watched a good vid discussing sodium batts, it was just at my level, not too much science. It suggests that the final cost will be lower, but of course needs time and investment to catch up. The vid suggested that some Na batts will get cheaper than some LFP batts around 2030 onwards, with the industry as a whole probably dipping under LFP around 2035. That includes the continued falling cost of LFP.

All good news, and a good buffer, as it means that research and investment in Na will go up, anytime Li costs go up, or don't fall. Certainly suggests that storage costs will continue to fall, no end in sight yet, as other technologies are available.

Sodium Batteries Power Grid Storage Revolution

Netexporter

I seem to remember CATL predicting sodium batteries will come down to $10/kWh, at cell level. As the world's largest battery maker, by a good margin, I'm inclined to believe them.

Although, having now watched the video, it may not be so clear cut. Seems that horses for courses will be the order of the day.