new ...(AfDB) - Several African countries have formally expressed interest to join the groundbreaking Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Consortium, launched Saturday during COP28, which could revolutionise Africa’s energy landscape by developing advanced energy storage solutions through collaboration and innovation. — Ecofin Agency, 14h ago

new The energy transition towards a more sustainable and renewable future is a pivotal global endeavor. Central to this shift for the United States is the critical role of domestically sourced lithium, a key mineral in the production of high-performance batteries essential for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems. This has driven the United States to invest heavily in a domestic supply chain for battery-grade lithium to enhance energy security, reduce supply chain vulnerabilities, and foster economic growth by tapping into local resources. A notable example is the Biden Administration’s “American Battery Materials Initiative,” which was included in the $2.8-billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (The White House, 2022). The “Salton Sea Known Geothermal Resource Area” in Imperial County, California has been identified as a potential domestic U.S. resource of lithium due to the brine-hosted lithium in the deep subsurface geothermal reservoir. An analysis funded by the U.S. Department of Energy provides an overview of opportunities and challenges associated with developing the lithium resource in the Salton Sea geothermal reservoir, as well as potential environmental and societal impacts to the county and surrounding region. The geologic history of the region suggests that lithium in the subsurface brines could have come from multiple sources, including water and sediments from the Colorado River, which have been periodically deposited over the past several million years; rocks from the mountain ranges surrounding the Imperial Valley; and lithium-bearing volcanic rocks and igneous intrusions from past geologic events. Further, several processes may have concentrated lithium in the brine over time, including evaporative concentration of lithium-bearing water that flowed into the basin and leaching of lithium from the sediments and rocks by the circulating geothermal brines. Geothermal brine production at the Salton Sea Geothermal Field, the area with existing geothermal power plants, has averaged just over 120 million metric tons per year since 2004. Using an approximate lithium brine concentration of 198 parts per million (ppm), the amount of dissolved lithium contained in these produced brines is estimated to be 127,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) per year. The total dissolved lithium content in the well-characterized portion of the Salton Sea Geothermal Reservoir is estimated at 4.1 million metric tons of LCE, and the estimated total resource increases to 18 million metric tons of LCE if assumptions for porosity and total reservoir size are increased to reflect the probable resource extent. Analysts measured lithium concentrations in the reservoir rocks, which were shown to vary with depth and mineralogy. These data were used to help refine conceptual and computer models of the reservoir; specifically, two complementary computer models of the reservoir were developed. Analysts used the first model to simulate the approximate 30-year history of geothermal power production in the area using historical production and reinjection data, then used that model to simulate a 30-year forecasting period. This forecast assumed continued production and reinjection rates at current levels but removes 95% of the lithium from the produced geothermal brine starting January 1, 2024. The model found that lithium recovery declines by more than half, from 0.8 to 0.3 kilograms per second (kg/s). Forecast scenarios that are optimized to both recover lithium and harness geothermal energy are expected to sustain lithium production rates much more effectively. The second model included more detailed simulations of the movement of brine and chemical reactivity of lithium within the reservoir. It showed that the reactions of relatively stable lithium-bearing minerals are slow, and that the primary replenishment mechanism for lithium in the brines is the upward flux of convecting lithium-rich brine from below the producing reservoir. However, these replenishment rates are not fast enough to produce significant increases in lithium, which could limit the long-term sustainability of the lithium resource. It is important to note that these models are preliminary and are based on current understanding of fluid replenishment rates, the minerals present in the geothermal system, and their chemical properties and reactivity. Further work should be undertaken to improve them and the associated predictions. The report also considered potential impacts on regional water resources, air quality, chemical use, and solid waste disposal needs, as well as the seismic risk associated with geothermal power production and lithium extraction activity. These investigations highlighted the need to proceed with good monitoring and verification systems and with appropriate mitigation technologies. However, the analysis illustrates that if these things are done properly, lithium development is not likely to create significant negative environmental impacts. Specifically, expanding geothermal energy production and lithium extraction will have a modest impact on water availability in the region. Initial estimates suggested that ~3% of historically available water supply for the region would be needed for currently proposed geothermal energy and lithium recovery operations; the majority of current water usage is for agriculture. It is not anticipated that expanding geothermal capacity or lithium production would impact the availability or quality of water used for human consumption and will not directly affect the water quality of the Salton Sea. However, the long-term drought conditions in the western United States may restrict future availability of water to the region, which is sourced from the Colorado River. In terms of regional air emissions of all pollutants identified in the analysis (particulate matter, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and benzene, expanding geothermal energy and adding lithium extraction overall have a small impact. Chemical use involved in geothermal power production and lithium extraction is consistent with chemical use in industrial settings, and the analysis did not identify any persistent organic pollutants or acutely toxic chemicals among those currently being used. Moving fluids within the subsurface can impact subsurface pressures and stresses, potentially triggering seismic activity. Early in geothermal energy production, increasing seismicity rates in the Salton Sea Geothermal Field correlated strongly with energy production activity; however, that correlation weakened after 1996. Even following the onset of geothermal energy production, seismic hazard in the Salton Sea Geothermal Field has not increased beyond that of the surrounding region. In addition to technical outcomes from the analysis, the report describes an initial effort to incorporate community engagement into lithium research by understanding the local context and priorities and identifying how to effectively communicate to share information and gather feedback. The report includes information about the social and historical context of the region to enable a more holistic understanding of the resource and its potential impact, and identifies key community questions by observing public meetings, visiting the region, and consulting with local organizations. The report provides recommendations about how future research efforts can address community concerns and implement more community-engaged practices. These include developing formal partnerships with local organizations and establishing a community advisory board to facilitate ongoing dialogue and opportunities for feedback. The future work will build on and further refine the models and scenarios presented in the report and strive to deepen engagement with local communities. — interestingengineering.com, 17h ago

new VRFB has efficiency and price hurdles to address, but McDowell—who is also participating in the research with Stryten—said they also have some advantages over lithium-ion, especially for large applications. VRFB batteries do not present a fire risk, their energy storage capacity does not degrade over time, and the tanks of liquid can be stacked on top of each other, unlocking the potential for much bigger battery systems to be built. — techxplore.com, 1d ago

new ...“This combined investment is an endorsement of Energy Dome’s ready-to-be-deployed, long-duration energy storage proposition. Energy Dome’s robust performance (high round-trip efficiency) and capital expenditure requirements are significantly more competitive than the Lithium-Ion benchmark, providing a solution to the critical problem of utility-scale long-duration energy storage, which is at the core of the renewable energy transition,” Energy Dome states. — CleanTechnica, 2d ago

new ...“Energy storage is becoming an integral part of the clean energy transition, with increased electrification of the energy system and rising share of variable renewable energy in power supply. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is actively supporting and promoting the use of best available clean energy technologies by governments and private sector, and one of our major priorities is Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). ADB is implementing BESS projects across Asia and the Pacific, from small-scale projects in the Maldives, Philippines, and Pacific Islands, to large-scale projects in Cambodia, Thailand, and Mongolia. We are also assisting governments to ensure the necessary regulatory framework is in place to attract private sector investment in BESS, such as in Georgia and India, and to develop pilot BESS projects in our DMCs including Viet Nam. As the climate bank for Asia and the Pacific, ADB is delighted to be actively working with GEAPP to accelerate the uptake of BESS and unlock transformative projects through dedicated technical assistance and concessional financial resources.”... — The Rockefeller Foundation, 2d ago

new Thermal energy storage refers to the process of storing thermal energy in a medium, such as water, ice, or molten salts, so that it can be used later to heat or cool a building or power a turbine. The stored thermal energy can be used during peak demand periods or when the primary energy source, such as solar or wind power, is unavailable. Thermal energy storage systems can be used for both residential and commercial applications and can help reduce energy costs and carbon emissions. The most common types of thermal energy storage include sensible heat storage, latent heat storage, and thermochemical storage.Thermal Energy Storage Market Competitive Landscape & Company Profiles... — openPR.com, 2d ago

new As CATL underlines, “ensuring the safety of energy storage batteries poses far greater challenges than those for EV batteries, as it requires a much higher level of consistency in manufacturing as well as innovation in cell and system design.”... — pv magazine International, 2d ago

new Transforming tank storage into large-scale, long-term electricity storage... — innoenergy.com, 2d ago

new Here are some final words from Yayoi Sekine, head of energy storage at BNEF: “Battery prices have been on a rollercoaster over the past two years. Large markets like the US and Europe are building up their local cell manufacturing and we’re keenly watching how production incentives and tightening regulations on critical minerals will impact battery prices. These localization efforts will add a layer of complexity to how battery prices shape up regionally in coming years.”... — CleanTechnica, 2d ago

new In its quest to build a low-carbon industrial infrastructure, EVE Energy has adopted a “next-door supply” strategy, recycling materials from spent batteries to reduce resource waste. The company’s technological innovations have increased the recovery rate of valuable metals and expanded industrial chain cooperation in resource recycling. In November 2022, EVE Power, a subsidiary of EVE Energy, received carbon-neutral certification for its eleventh factory in Hubei. Leveraging its expertise in building zero-carbon factories, EVE Energy aims to complete three such facilities by 2025. Additionally, the construction of EVE Energy’s environmentally friendly battery factory in Hungary, slated for completion in 2026, will incorporate solar and energy storage systems, promoting efficient use of clean energy and advocating for green electricity production to continually manage carbon emissions. — TNGlobal, 2d ago

new Cost Efficiency: By avoiding the need to build extensive storage infrastructure, there is a potential for cost savings. Energy storage technologies, especially at a large scale, can be expensive. Not having to invest in widespread storage systems could contribute to a more cost-effective transition to renewable energy. — Energy Central, 2d ago

new For instance, we see the emergence of battery energy storage systems as being a necessary part of this transition to address the volatility in the energy supply. Eventually, to transition the transportation sector and continue global trade, we’ll need to think of green ammonia and green hydrogen as well. These are all considerations for redesigning the energy mix. We are attaching our risk engineering knowledge and the creation of new risk management standards for these technologies so that our insurance clients understand these risks. — Eco-Business, 2d ago

new Energy storage differs from other energy technologies in the breadth and complexity of its addressable market and revenue opportunities. While naturally focusing on battery storage, we also cover the variety of competing storage technologies and describe the wide variety of problems energy storage seeks to solve, at a wide range of deployment sizes and timescales, including key issues around practical project delivery. — Eco-Business, 2d ago

new What if you could get more out of your exercise bike than just, well, exercise? That’s the idea behind HR Bank, an exercise bike that captures and stores the energy generated while you pedal it. The idea came from Jonas Navickas, CEO of Tukas EV, a Lithuanian startup that makes electric vehicles and energy storage solutions. He was inspired to create a solution after learning that people in Ukraine were forced to share generators just to charge their phones after they lost electricity. Essentially a giant power bank with pedals, the HR Bank can power a refrigerator for three days and be used daily for smaller devices.Source: FOX... — GovTech, 2d ago

new Leaders from all quarters must collaborate to remove the barriers to affordable clean energy, such as insufficient and expensive battery energy storage systems. Doing so could ignite demand, stimulate innovation and trigger a market transformation. — Eco-Business, 2d ago

new Lastly, beyond the power sector and renewable energy investment in mature technologies such as solar and wind, an India-JETP could focus on finance for emerging technologies. India has announced policy initiatives in energy storage systems, green hydrogen, carbon capture and utilization, and small modular nuclear reactors. However, these technologies are still maturing, and their widespread deployment faces financing and technical challenges. A JETP could be an effective way to reduce costs for the early commercialization of these systems through technology sharing. Technology waivers such as intellectual property right waivers would be a key enabler in reducing emissions for India and may be included with any financial deal. — Foreign Policy, 2d ago

new Wind and solar must have fossil fuels, or an overly expensive energy storage system, available in the background to make them dispatchable. Those fossil fuel plants need to be available on a moment’s notice. And the amount of power needed available in the background has to be 100% of the maximum power needed at any one time on the grid because renewable power can drop to zero at any time. — Watts Up With That? • The world's most viewed site on global warming and climate change, 2d ago