COMMENTARY by Jonathan Newell, Acting Editor/Technical Editor xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERS THE SOCIETY OF


THE FUTURE OF BATTERIES


G


rowth in consumer electronics, sustainable power systems and the vast automotive electrification market is fuelling a “frenzy of investment” in new battery technology expected to satisfy a need that is predicted to grow to $90 billion by 2025, according


to research analysts at Arthur D Little (ADL). A lot of the investment stems from industry nervousness about


sustainable supplies and consumer anxiety about cost and reliability, all of which are detractors to significant growth in the segments associated with battery technology. According to Michaël Kolk of ADL, battery technology is undergoing the


biggest disruption in its 150-plus year history, driven by the need for better products in areas such as electric vehicles and renewable power. “However, companies need to beware of the risks, as well as the huge potential of the market, if they are to emerge victorious in the future,” he says. According to ADL, the risks of failure are high and the companies with


the greatest chance of success will build complex innovation partnerships and will be backed by significant intellectual property. There’s certainly no shortage of innovative talent in the UK, as


demonstrated by Glasgow University with its recent announcement of its “hybrid-electric-hydrogen” flow battery, based on a nanoscale battery molecule that can store energy, releasing power on demand as electric power or hydrogen gas that can be used as fuel. When a concentrated liquid containing the nano-molecules is made, the amount of energy it can store increases by almost 10 times. The energy can be released as either electricity or hydrogen gas, meaning the system could be used flexibly in situations that might need either a fuel or electric power. Professor Leroy Cronin, the university’s Regius Chair of Chemistry is


convinced the innovation will pave the way for the development of new energy storage systems that could also be used to store renewable energy and to develop electric-to-gas energy systems for when a fuel is required. “The very high energy density of our material could increase the range


of electric cars and also increase the resilience of energy storage systems to keep the lights on at times of peak demand.” However, the challenge facing the University of Glasgow as well as other


‘


to be aware of the risk as well as the huge potential


’


innovators is the need for rapid cost reduction to meet market expectations. Energy & manufacturing specialist at ADL, Kurt Baes, says that to make the cost of hybridisation or electrification comparable to internal combustion engines, the price of energy delivery needs to be no more than $100/kWh, whereas existing costs are in the range of $190–$250/kWh.


Companies need President and Chairman of Council


Peter Vincent, PSEE, BA, IEng, MIET, Hon.FSEE Immediate Past President


Graham Couser, PPSEE, CEng, CEnv, Hon.FSEE Past Presidents


Prof Steve Burnage PPSEE, CEng, CEnv, FIMechE Hon.FSEE


Prof Mervyn L. de Calcina-Goff, StJ, PPSEE ASIS CEnv, FRSA, Hon.FSEE


Vice Presidents


Stephen Tweed, CEng, CEnv, FSEE James Regan, CEnv, FSEE


Hon.Treasurer


Colin Weetch, IEng, FSEE Chief Executive


Prof Raymond P. Clark, OBE, DSc, CEng, CEnv, Hon.FSEE, Hon.FSE


Secretariat


Diana Kharchenko 020 7630 2132


Offices of the SEE 22 Greencoat Place, London SW1P 1PR


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© Society of Environmental Engineers 2018 ISSN 0954-5824


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September 2018 /// Environmental Engineering /// 3


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