Column: Going Green
The UK needs a resilient battery
supply chain to transition to greener energy storage
emitting sectors that will be most affected by net zero, calling for scaled development of greener energy alternatives. The UK has the opportunity to take the lead on the global manufacturing stage due to its expertise and long-standing efforts in developing batteries, such as lithium-ion. With specialist skills and expertise, the country can build on its advantages and create huge domestic manufacturing capability. These are key to meeting net-zero targets, by increasing the energy generated by renewable and low-carbon technologies. On-shore battery-cell production
By Kevin Brundish, CEO, AMTE Power
I
n the run-up to the 2050 net zero deadline and the goal of reducing carbon emissions by 80%, the UK is firmly heading toward renewable energy deployment.
For these climate targets to be met, the government is required to implement extra-low-carbon heating and renewable electricity, and commit £12bn to a ‘Green Industrial Revolution’, which should also stimulate jobs in the green sector. Energy supply from burning fuels is currently one of the four highest-
will help the government’s plans to “build back better” through three key pillars: infrastructure, skills and innovation. Since 2019, nearly 130 battery storage projects have started in the UK, cementing the critical role batteries play in a more self- sufficient energy system. Last year, the UK’s pipeline of battery storage projects stood at over 16GW, with over 700 projects in operation, under construction or being planned, according to RenewableUK, the group made up of over 400 member companies that ensures renewable electricity is increasingly deployed across the UK. Energy stores provide space for renewable energy sources like wind and solar, to be drawn when customers require them. One emerging technology harnessing
this energy is sodium-ion, which with its sustainability, safety and performance benefits offers a very promising path to decarbonisation. Compared to lithium-ion, sodium-ion batteries can be developed more readily and at a lower price. They operate in a broad temperature range and can be transported more easily, making them eco-friendly and reliable. Sodium-ion batteries are increasingly
recognised as a solution for cleaner energy, with Bloomberg estimating that their installations will rise from 6GWh in 2019 to a staggering 155GWh annually by 2030.
UK energy storage market Te manufacturing sector is a rapidly expanding market, so it’s important that the UK becomes a global competitor. Just last summer, the country’s first grid-scale battery storage system was launched online, with the energy storage market set to become an example of the scale that can be achieved with a boost from innovative technology. Currently, the UK’s energy stores are
being underpinned by groups of companies, such as the UK Consortium. Companies like Faradion are supporting AMTE Power to produce the innovative sodium-ion cells at scale and to meet the increasing demand for safer home-energy storage. Such licensing deals – which combine Faradion’s technology with AMTE Power’s manufacturing capabilities – are essential in helping the UK become a leader in green energy storage as the world looks beyond lithium.
Building gigafactories Currently, an immature supply chain with rooted reliance on production lines overseas means most British manufacturers produce sodium-ion cells in low volumes. To realise the much lower environmental cost of sodium-ion cells, the UK must build renewable energy stores on-shore. Tis is essential to further the green agenda by reducing the carbon footprint of the industry and that of the UK overall. Obtaining cell products nearby, as opposed to importing them from China, further minimises CO2
emissions that would be
harmful to the environment. To continue work toward a greener
future, AMTE Power plans to build a gigafactory that will produce batteries at a capacity of 2GWh per year. Manufacturing proprietary sodium-ion cells for battery storage, the gigafactory will have a prominent role in setting up a more robust battery supply chain and a sustainable future.
AMTE Power’s own specialist cells,
such as the Ultra-Safe (US) cell, are also coming to market this year. Te sodium-ion chemistry in US cells has a safer thermal structure and will deliver high performance cost-effectively.
www.electronicsworld.com April 2022 09
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