The University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney has revealed that long-duration batteries are likely to be crucial in the transition to more environmentally friendly energy systems.
Current battery energy storage technologies are relatively expensive to build, ranging from $100 to $300 per kilowatt per hour as reported by Solar Choice.
These technologies have traditionally struggled to store enough energy to meet the demand when the sun is not shining or the wind is not blowing.
UNSW Sydney reports that new alternatives, known as long-duration energy storage (LDES) batteries, have large energy capacities that offer a “promising solution”.
The university says these technologies may soon allow the world to store electricity created by solar panels and wind turbines for extended periods, ensuring there is a steady and constant supply of power on demand.
LDES batteries can provide backup power options in critical situations, such as for hospitals or during natural disasters.
Associate Professor Chris Menictas says one of the key factors is enhanced grid stability.
“Renewable energy sources like solar and wind are intermittent, meaning they do not produce power all the time, such as at night or when the weather is calm,” Menictas says.
“LDES batteries can store excess electricity and release it when needed, which helps smooth out the energy supply. Then there is the question of resilience and being able to provide power for critical services — like a hospital or maybe even a data centre.”
Menictas adds that it is important for these systems to have between eight to 12 hours of storage.
Professor Jie Bao says there are numerous different LDES battery technologies being developed that can be used for different scenarios.
“The different technologies can also be complimentary, and can be implemented in tandem and properly coordinated,” Bao says.
“But there are also very common challenges. One is the raw materials, such as lithium or vanadium, that we need to source and another is simply the scale of manufacture to build the number and size of batteries we now need.”
UNSW Sydney says a major challenge of LDES batteries is the high initial costs, with many of the technologies requiring an upfront investment in infrastructure.
LDES technologies experience energy loss during the storage and retrieval process, due to factors like self-discharge, internal resistance, and inefficiencies in the charging and discharging cycles.
The university notes while LDES batteries could be key to a cleaner energy future, their environmental impact varies depending on the technology used. A benefit is lowering carbon emissions, as the use of fossil fuels to produce electricity can be reduced.
Some of the main battery technologies rely on rare or critical minerals, such as lithium, vanadium, and cobalt. This raises environmental concerns if the mining practices are not conducted sustainably or cause greenhouse gas emissions.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: The Desert Photo/Adobe Stock/UNSW Sydney
