Page 46 - EE Times Europe Magazine – November 2023

46 EE|Times EUROPE

Powering Europe’s Energy with Zinc-Ion Storage Solutions

Battery energy storage system capacity is likely to quintuple between now and 2030.

Note: Figures may not
sum to 100%, because of
rounding.
(Source: McKinsey Energy
Storage Insights BESS
market model)

ENERGY STORAGE MARKET OVERVIEW The manufacturing and materials used in ary energy storage, and installing batteries in
The stationary energy storage market is worth batteries themselves must be made more sus- population-dense areas where fire safety is a
US$44 billion to US$55 billion today and is tainable through enhanced circularity in both major concern.
predicted to reach up to US$150 billion by production and product to reduce waste. Pro- Zinc-ion battery technology is quickly
2030. The majority of this growth will come liferating sustainable storage is therefore vital advancing and is proving to be competitive on
from batteries becoming more affordable for the dual purposes of supporting renewables costs and performance, as raw materials like
for energy-shifting applications. The energy integration and avoiding new environmental zinc and manganese are globally available and
storage market has immense potential, and strains from non-recyclable, unsafe batteries. cost-effective. Utilizing water-based compo-
we have yet to see what new applications Prioritizing research, policies and investments nents in zinc-ion batteries ensures they are
innovators will create with greater access to that accelerate sustainable storage develop- non-flammable, enabling safe implementa-
more affordable and safer battery technology ment will be instrumental in reaching Europe’s tion across sectors like transportation and
that is available at scale. emissions-reduction goals. residential buildings.
Currently, lithium-ion batteries dominate Safety doesn’t come at the expense of
the storage space, making up 90% of grid POWERING THE FUTURE WITH ZINC-ION performance, though, as zinc also has strong
energy storage around the world. As Europe BATTERIES rechargeability. When combined with scalable
charges full speed ahead in the global energy Imagine two cities, City One and City Two, manufacturing and reusable materials, zinc-
transition, harnessing renewable sources powered by a single power plant located in City ion batteries can enable the high levels of
across transportation, electricity and heating, One. It might work, but this hypothetical City renewables penetration that Europe is aiming
energy storage needs will grow exponentially. Two would be left vulnerable to fuel shortages, for by 2030.
Most lithium supply resides outside Europe, price hikes and the demand for power in City
exposing potential vulnerabilities like supply One. Integrating additional power sources, THE FUTURE OF ENERGY IN EUROPE
chain disruptions from geopolitical tensions. such as solar, wind and natural gas, makes City To transition to a renewable economy, Europe
Reinforcing infrastructure with localized Two’s grid more resilient. Europe faces a simi- will require multiple storage solutions. While
supply chains and technologies, including lar need to diversify the energy storage sources lithium-ion still has an important role to play,
zinc-ion, adds resilience and will help fill powering its clean energy infrastructure. Until zinc-ion is poised to power more of Europe’s
the gap between reliance on lithium-ion and now, we’ve relied too heavily on the “City One” vital infrastructure as an abundant, safe and
reaching 100% renewable energy. resource of lithium-ion batteries. high-performing technology.
To enable rapid scale-up, materials must If we move swiftly to scale up zinc-ion
IMPORTANCE OF TRANSITIONING be readily available and easily manufactured battery production and raw material supply
TO SUSTAINABLE STORAGE at high volumes, with recyclable components. chains today, Europe will reap the rewards
As solar, wind and other renewables rap- Zinc-ion batteries are ideal in situations tomorrow. The future requires better batter-
idly scale up, energy storage solutions like where current batteries are unsuitable for ies, and affordable energy storage enabled
zinc-ion batteries are essential to address the affordability, accessibility or safety reasons. by zinc-ion technology is poised to become a
intermittency of these sources and reliably Such applications include replacing diesel critical building block for the future of energy
meet demand. Sustainable storage enables generators, supporting the deployment of in Europe. ■
broader adoption of renewables across the renewable energy, maritime applications,
electricity, heating and transportation sectors. growing commercial and residential station- Eloisa de Castro is CEO of Enerpoly.

NOVEMBER 2023 | www.eetimes.eu