Analyzing Energy Storage
Today, people are so obsessed with their mobile devices that they are literally dependent on them. And our devices depend on batteries the way we depend on our devices. Our phone is out of juice and our panic.
Hence, today many people do consider battery longevity factor important whenever they plan to buy a mobile device. Once drained, the battery needs to be recharged. Depending on the apps and other functionalities being used, most mobile devices need to be charged every day.
That is why researchers are experimenting with battery chemistries to create a battery that would not only take a longer time to drain but are also small and compact.
Battery longevity demanded everywhere
However, energy storage is a concern not only for consumer world but also for the automotive and industrial world. Due to decarbonisation, the question is how to store the power generated for later use.
In 2013, David Willetts presented his Eight Great Technologies paper in which he also talked about Energy storage.
He said:
“We need better ways to store electricity. This need arises at three distinct levels. First, there are the batteries in all our personal electronic devices. The second level is the development of better energy storage for vehicles. Thirdly, there is the challenge of storing more electricity for the Grid.”
Today, research is going beyond battery for consumer products. Different inventions are happening in different parts of the world. Most people think that Li-ion battery was invented in Japan when actually it was invented in the UK.
Rob Saunders, head of energy with Innovate UK, said:
“We’re seeing the emergence of the next generation of battery technologies, with a few interesting UK companies – Oxis and Faradian, for example – and interesting things happening. The technologies they are working on could provide a distinct advantage over Li-ion. There is a lot of work underway into the basic materials science involved in the electrochemistry of charging and discharging. For example, Claire Grey’s work at Cambridge has the potential to revolutionise how batteries charge and discharge, maybe resulting in batteries with longer lives. Innovate UK is funding battery technology programmes with the aim of recapturing a significant part of the EV and industrial battery market. We’re keen to make the most of the opportunities from now on.”
What are your thoughts about batteries with greater longevity? How long does your battery last? Post your comments.
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