The Australian Maritime Safety Authority recently reported about an explosion on board a charter fishing vessel, when berthed. The following investigation identified that the ignition source was a lithium-ion battery that was not holding charge, connected to a battery charger in a way that bypassed the battery management safety system. The force of the explosion ..read more

At the University of Adelaide, a group of researchers lead by Professor Shizhang Qiao, Chair of Nanotechnology, and Director, Centre for Materials in Energy and Catalysis, has examined the sulfur reduction reaction (SRR) which is the pivotal process governing the charge-discharge rate of lithium-sulfur batteries. The “shuttle” effect is the main cause of degradation in ..read more

Skip Technology Inc, a U.S.-based innovator focusing on effective energy storage technology, announced that Puyallup Tribal Enterprises (PTE) has become the primary investor in the company. For Puyallup this is a strategic move demonstrating their commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable energy solutions for greater energy security and grid resilience. Portland-based Skip Technology has developed ..read more

The IEA’s (International Energy Agency) Special Report on Batteries and Secure Energy tells that in less than 15 years, lithium-ion battery costs have fallen by more than 90%. Today, the energy sector accounts for over 90% of overall battery demand. In 2023 alone, battery deployment in the power sector increased by more than 130% year-on-year ..read more

The rapid development of EV charging infrastructure is expensive and time-consuming. There are some solutions to ease the burden on commercial EV fleet operators and on grid operators. The UK Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) is currently exploring ways that its members such as DPD and Royal Mail can share the EV charging infrastructure at ..read more

A new alliance has been created in the solid-state battery segment. Factorial Inc, a Massachusetts based company, specialised in high-performance solid-state batteries, and LG Chem, the largest chemical company in South Korea, have signed a memorandum of understanding to accelerate the development of solid-state battery materials. The agreement covers the field of next-generation battery materials ..read more

Global demand for refined lead metal is anticipated to increase by 1.9% this year to 13.42 million tonnes, according to the International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG). The Portugal-based body sees a partial recovery in demand in the US of 0.7% in 2024 after a 3.8% dip last year. In Europe, a 1% rise ..read more

The International Lead Association has urged lawmakers and regulators to recognise the strategic value of lead ahead of elections in the European Union in June. It points to three areas where the economy can benefit. They include more support for the lead battery value chain as a vital component of Europe’s green transition; recognising lead ..read more

Long-duration energy storage (LDES) will be needed to help decarbonise electricity grids. Market mechanisms are not properly in place yet. Andrew Draper met with Alan Greenshields, Europe director for flow battery company ESS, to learn more about its approach. Decarbonisation of energy demands long-duration energy storage (LDES) as a solution, according to flow battery company ..read more

NGK Insulators is to supply NAS batteries for a large-scale green hydrogen production project in Germany. It is being developed by HH2E, a German green hydrogen producer. The order, for an undisclosed value, was from BASF Stationary Energy Storage, a subsidiary of German chemical manufacturer BASF. The NAS batteries use sodium and sulphur and have ..read more