Under Horizon Europe, battery stakeholders may apply for and receive funding for activities across the entire battery value chain. The second work programme for the period 2023-2024 has been published in November 2022.
We explore cutting-edge new battery technologies that hold the potential to reshape energy systems, drive sustainability, and support the green transition.
Batteries can unlock other energy technologies, and they're starting to make their mark on the grid. This article is from The Spark, MIT Technology Review 's weekly climate newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Wednesday, sign up here. Batteries are on my mind this week. (Aren't they always?)
Are batteries the future of energy?
The planet's oceans contain enormous amounts of energy. Harnessing it is an early-stage industry, but some proponents argue there's a role for wave and tidal power technologies. (Undark) Batteries can unlock other energy technologies, and they're starting to make their mark on the grid.
Could lithium-sulfur technology unlock better batteries for electric vehicles?
Some companies are looking beyond lithium for stationary energy storage. Dig into the prospects for sodium-based batteries in this story from last year. Lithium-sulfur technology could unlock cheaper, better batteries for electric vehicles that can go farther on a single charge.
Are batteries getting cheaper?
Good news: batteries are getting cheaper. While early signs show just how important batteries can be in our energy system, we still need gobs more to actually clean up the grid. If we're going to be on track to cut greenhouse-gas emissions to zero by midcentury, we'll need to increase battery deployment sevenfold.
The good news is the technology is becoming increasingly economical. Battery costs have fallen drastically, dropping 90% since 2010, and they're not done yet. According to the IEA report, battery costs could fall an additional 40% by the end of this decade.