Revolutionary spirit energises Boston
As the birthplace of the American revolution it was fitting that Boston, Massachusetts, should host a conference about a very different, but no less significant, kind of upheaval. The journey from oil to clean, renewable energy is well underway and Boston provided the backdrop for a workshop and conference on energy storage where my colleagues and I were able to showcase the storage systems currently being supported by advanced lead batteries, worldwide. Some argue the shift to clean forms of energy generated by solar and wind farms is more of an evolution than a revolution.
What is clear from our own in-depth analysis is that the market for energy storage is set to mushroom, growing by between 20 and 40 per cent by 2025. That equates to a massive uptick in demand for energy storage solutions – and it will take more than one technology to meet that scale of growth. At our battery innovation hub, ALABC, we are mapping energy storage projects using advanced lead battery storage.
Our members and I highlighted some of these case studies, which can be viewed here, in a workshop.
I also attended the Energy Storage Association’s annual conference, where we discussed with delegates the advantages of advanced lead battery systems, from their technical performance to their reliability, their affordability and of course their safety. And a key advantage for those investing in clean sources of energy, is that 99% of lead batteries can be recycled at end-of-life.
The rapid growth in the market means battery companies will need to move quickly to develop innovative solutions to support this revolution. Many companies and members of ALABC, are already providing a range of technical solutions in the market, as highlighted by Trojan, East Penn/Ecoult, NorthStar and US battery at the workshop.
While it’s clear that there is a key role being played by other technologies, such as lithium, advanced lead batteries are already meeting demand and have a huge opportunity to play a significant role in this developing market, building on the technology’s tried and tested strengths and adaptability.
