China: full of Eastern promise
Demand for next generation lead batteries boosts market growth and research opportunities
More than 90 lead battery industry delegates attended the Consortium for Battery Innovation (CBI’s) annual China workshop, a virtual meeting, sponsored by Shandong Jinkeli Power Sources and Shangdong Huayang, alongside CBI members and partners in China and the wider Asian region.
Leading companies and associations from the lead battery industry attended the event including Tianneng, Chaowei, Leoch, Fengfan, Shuangdeng/China Shoto, Sacred Sun, Vision Group, Narada, Hammondand Camel.
Presentations included an analysis of lead battery markets, with both current and future forecasts, by Dr Geoffrey May, CBI’s Battery Science Consultant. All applications for lead battery technology were covered in the analysis including industrial, motive power and telecoms, and attendees heard about the strong market growth particularly in the automotive and energy storage sectors.
Research remains the cornerstone of CBI’s work and Dr Matt Raiford, CBI’s Technical Manager, delivered an update on CBI’s current research program. Special highlights include research focused on enhancing lead battery performance for energy storage and automotive applications by delivering improved cycle life and DCA (dynamic charge acceptance) performance. The future direction of work may expand CBI’s research program to cover both motive power and industrial applications which remain a vital market for lead batteries. CBI is driving lead batteries into the future and their research is vital in achieving the performance objectives set out in CBI’s Technical Roadmap.
The role of the industry in communicating the benefits of lead batteries continues to be a significant undertaking and one which is seeing greater alignment between the global lead battery industry. CBI’s interactive map of energy storage installations remains a focal point of CBI’s communications and China is an extremely important region featured on the map with some of the largest lead battery projects worldwide.
China’s shift to greater electrochemical energy storage is driving demand for all batteries with an increase of 157% recorded for electrochemical energy storage in the first three quarters of 2020 according to the China Energy Storage Alliance (CNESA). Lead batteries are a vital electrochemical technology representing a 14% share in China. There is clearly a fundamental role for lead batteries in future energy storage as a safe, cost-effective, reliable and highly recycled technology. Check out CBI’s technical case studies to see lead batteries in action.
Finishing with an in-depth panel discussion, conference speakers were joined by CBI Director Dr Alistair Davidson, and global battery experts Mark Stevenson of Global Lead Technologies and Dr David Rand from CSIRO. Covering topics from lead battery recycling, smelting processes, market predictions and advancements into lead battery technologies. Extensive discussions were also held with regard to the future for lead batteries in e-bikes and as auxiliary battery for hybrid and electric vehicles.
Originally published by the Consortium for Battery Innovation.
