The hottest Energy Storage Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

How We Got the Lithium-Ion Battery

Construction Physics • 49690 implied HN points • 29 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Energy Storage Battery technology Research & Development Electronics
  1. The lithium-ion battery is key to many modern technologies like smartphones and electric vehicles. Its high energy density and rechargeable nature make it very useful.
  2. The battery's development took many years and involved multiple researchers from around the world. Many discoveries were made by chance, not through a clear, straight path.
  3. Advancements have made lithium-ion batteries much cheaper and more efficient over time. Innovations in materials and manufacturing have helped lower costs and boost production.

The World of Graphite

Intercalation Station • 139 implied HN points • 16 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Materials science Energy Storage Supply Chain Geopolitics Sustainability
  1. Graphite is a key material for batteries, especially in electric vehicles, and there's been a shift from natural to synthetic graphite due to supply risks.
  2. China dominates the graphite supply, which creates concerns about over-reliance and geopolitical tensions, leading to increased global interest in local production.
  3. Synthetic graphite can be made from waste materials and has the potential to reduce environmental impacts if produced using renewable energy sources.

Storage Units

Doomberg • 6525 implied HN points • 05 Nov 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Energy Storage Environmental Policy Climate Science
  1. Transitioning solely to renewable energy sources is risky because no region has successfully operated a reliable grid using only wind and solar power.
  2. Building storage systems, like batteries, is expensive and may not solve the issues of reliability when renewables aren't producing energy.
  3. Conducting small-scale experiments at home can help individuals understand how much backup power they really need when the grid is unstable.

To compromise or not to compromise in battery technology

Intercalation Station • 79 implied HN points • 09 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Battery tech Energy Storage Manufacturing Automotive Innovation
  1. Battery technology is evolving, and it’s important to understand different types like NMC and LFP. These choices affect cost, safety, and how much energy batteries can hold.
  2. Moving to larger battery cells can save costs and increase energy storage but brings challenges in heat management and monitoring cell health. Better systems are needed to keep everything safe and efficient.
  3. Companies are adapting to use LFP batteries due to their safety and lower costs, even if it means sacrificing some energy capacity. The goal is to find new ways to make these batteries even better in the future.

Focus on European power reserves: part 1 - FCR

GEM Energy Analytics • 279 implied HN points • 31 May 24
🕹 Technology Energy Storage Renewables Market Analysis
  1. Frequency Containment Reserves (FCR) are the fastest type of power reserves in Europe, helping to keep the electricity grid stable as more renewable energy sources are integrated.
  2. FCR prices can vary significantly and are influenced by solar energy production, with periods of high solar generation leading to higher FCR prices due to a lack of flexible energy sources.
  3. The rise of large batteries in the market is changing FCR dynamics, and while they add flexibility, they can also lead to price fluctuations depending on the availability of renewable energy.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

STEERing the battery industry in right direction

Intercalation Station • 719 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Energy Storage Market Trends Supply Chain Government support
  1. Sodium-ion battery technology has potential cost advantages and safety improvements but faces challenges in integration and market scale.
  2. Li-ion will likely continue to dominate the energy storage market by 2030, and the need for medium to long duration storage solutions is being assessed.
  3. Addressing material limitations in energy storage requires improved material sourcing, supply chain transparency, economic considerations, technical challenges, and community support.

Hydropower and seasonal electricity storage

GEM Energy Analytics • 339 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Storage Decarbonization
  1. Hydropower with large reservoirs can store energy for a long time, helping balance electricity supply when renewable sources like wind and solar are low.
  2. As we move towards renewable energy, seasonal storage will be essential. However, using hydrogen for storage can be very expensive.
  3. Countries with more hydropower can better manage their energy needs, especially during peak demands, giving them an advantage over those that rely on costly alternatives.

How China solves the renewable intermittency issue

TP’s Substack • 35 implied HN points • 19 Nov 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Energy Storage Nuclear power Sustainability
  1. China is investing heavily in renewable energy sources like solar and wind, which have been growing rapidly. These types of energy are faster and cheaper to set up compared to nuclear power.
  2. To tackle the issue of renewable energy not being available at all times, China is using advanced battery storage systems and smart grids. These technologies help store energy when production is high and release it when demand peaks.
  3. Electric vehicles (EVs) in cities like Shenzhen are being used to help manage energy supply. During busy times, these EVs can return power to the grid, making the entire energy system more resilient.

Comparing the Pace of Solar and Batteries

GEM Energy Analytics • 319 implied HN points • 29 Sep 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Electric Vehicles Energy Storage Market Trends Sustainability
  1. Solar energy is growing really fast, and it's changing the way we think about energy costs. Europe is seeing a huge increase in solar capacity, with Germany leading the way.
  2. Batteries, especially large-scale ones and home batteries, are important for storing solar energy, but they still can't keep up with solar growth. More batteries are coming, but their impact is still limited right now.
  3. Electric vehicles (EVs) can help with energy storage too, but we need better support and smart systems for them to work effectively. Right now, we face challenges in making the most of EVs to store solar energy.

Revolutionising Energy Storage: The AI and Experimental Design Fusion in Battery Tech

Intercalation Station • 139 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Energy Storage Machine Learning Battery technology AI Experimental Design
  1. The use of machine learning and adaptive experimental design is revolutionizing battery technology for more efficient, reliable, and sustainable energy storage solutions.
  2. Machine learning enhances consumer electronics by optimizing battery life and performance, showing practical benefits in devices like smartphones and electric vehicles.
  3. The combination of machine learning and adaptive experimental design leads to quicker research and innovation in battery technology, making advancements more tailored, responsive, and impactful across industries.

Drying Lakes, Drying Streams, Drying Rivers: Blame Climate Change for Drying Water Bodies

Adetokunbo Sees • 312 implied HN points • 07 Oct 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Renewable Energy Energy Storage Water Crisis Population Growth
  1. Climate change plays a significant role in the drying up of lakes, streams, and rivers around the world.
  2. Human activities contribute to the water level decline in water bodies, along with climate change.
  3. As the world's population grows, the stress on water resources, migration, and conflicts due to drying water bodies could increase.

Broken Promises, Broken Pledges: Big Oil's Play on Climate Promises

Adetokunbo Sees • 312 implied HN points • 21 Jul 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Energy Storage Electric Vehicles
  1. Big Oil companies are continuing to invest heavily in fossil fuel projects despite breaking climate promises.
  2. Surging climate technologies, such as renewable energy and electric vehicles, are rapidly developing to combat climate change.
  3. Efforts should be made to curb Big Oil's profit-driven spending to address the climate crisis.

There are only 2 kinds of battery

cleanenergyreview • 19 implied HN points • 21 May 24
🔬 Science Energy Storage Renewable Energy Electricity Markets
  1. There are two main types of batteries that matter: high capital cost per kWh stored with high roundtrip efficiency, and low capital cost per kWh stored with low roundtrip efficiency.
  2. Technologies and teams in both battery categories will be working to reduce their respective costs over time.
  3. Renewables paired with batteries are seen as the future of electricity, with different battery types serving distinct roles in the energy grid.

Will utility-scale batteries reduce volatility in the day-ahead markets?

GEM Energy Analytics • 119 implied HN points • 05 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Energy Storage Renewable Energy Market Dynamics Battery technology
  1. Utility-scale batteries are not likely to lower price swings in energy markets soon. They may help with energy storage but won't solve ongoing price volatility problems.
  2. As solar energy use grows, the daily prices for electricity may get even more unpredictable, especially during peak sunny hours. This is known as the 'canyon curve' effect.
  3. While large batteries are useful for grid services, like frequency control, they're not yet cost-effective for buying energy at low prices and selling it at high prices. Other storage options, like pumped hydro, may offer better solutions.

Stored Hydropower: an overlooked battery storage solution

WeBeGreen • 79 implied HN points • 31 May 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Energy Storage Sustainability
  1. Stored Hydropower is an efficient and cost-effective solution to the intermittency of renewables, offering a massive energy reservoir that can provide reliable backup energy to the grid.
  2. The inefficiency of traditional fossil fuel systems, which waste a significant amount of energy as heat, contrasts with the direct supply of electricity from solar and wind energy systems, making the transition to renewables more feasible than perceived.
  3. The advancement of renewable energy technologies, coupled with innovative energy storage solutions like Pumped Hydro Storage, signifies a shift towards a sustainable future and the potential to move away from fossil fuels.

Large-scale battery systems: potential use cases in Albania

GEM Energy Analytics • 79 implied HN points • 07 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Energy Storage Renewable Energy Market Analysis Infrastructure Environmental Impact
  1. Large-scale batteries can help store energy and improve the electricity system in Albania. They could be useful in stabilizing the grid and providing backup power.
  2. These batteries can also help with buying and selling electricity at different prices, which may become profitable in the future as the market develops. This could help businesses make more money from energy.
  3. Co-locating batteries with renewable energy sources can enhance performance and reduce costs related to energy supply. This allows for better management of energy production and consumption.

AI Partnerships Advance Industrial Automation

Exponential Industry • 0 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI/ML Manufacturing Robotics Semiconductors Energy Storage
  1. AI partnerships are advancing industrial automation by improving quality, throughput, and worker safety.
  2. Businesses are investing in new technologies like sensors, robotics, 3D printing, and AI to enhance manufacturing processes.
  3. Government initiatives like Made Smarter are driving tech investments in SMEs for industry growth and sustainability.