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I think Solar coupled with batteries or hydroelectric storage makes a lot of sense - decentralized, proven tech, relatively easy to repair, much cheaper to buil

I think Solar coupled with batteries or hydroelectric storage makes a lot of sense - decentralized, proven tech, relatively easy to repair, much cheaper to build in remote areas instead of long high voltage power lines. I'm just wondering about Lithium supplies if half the world is going battery powered.

awjr 10y ago
It gets complicated. Lithium supplies could last 360ish years at current production rates. However given certain scenarios it could reduce down to about 17 years. https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Is-There-Enough-Lithium-to-Maintain-the-Growth-of-the-Lithium-Ion-Battery-M https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Is-There-Enough... More interesting is that Lithium is recycled but cannot find how much per year. In theory 70% of lithium batteries from 5 years ago are recycled back into new batteries.
- puranjay 10y ago
  I'm of the firm opinion that if supply was to get so scarce, we'd find an alternative tech solution. The economics just work out that way.
adrianN 10y ago
Energy storage in the form of molten salt from thermal solar plants seems a lot easier than building lots of batteries.
- m_mueller 10y ago
  IMO this needs some citation. The ones I'm aware of are these big expensive spanish power plants. I think this is neither simple nor cost effective compared to batteries, plus the energy is AFAIK only stored short term.
  - Gibbon1 10y ago
    Far as I could tell running numbers for pumped heat storage is it should work well enough. Link: http://energystorage.org/energy-storage/technologies/pumped-heat-electrical-storage-phes http://energystorage.org/energy-storage/technologies/pumped-... No one builds them though because there isn't a lot of need currently. Mostly I think because it's cheaper to build a natural gas fired peaking plant than time shift say electricity from coal fired plants. However as we add more wind and solar this should change.
jefurii 10y ago
This is a really interesting project: store energy in the form of concrete blocks moved up and down slopes by electric train bogies with regenerative braking. http://www.aresnorthamerica.com/ http://www.aresnorthamerica.com/

awjr 10y ago

It gets complicated. Lithium supplies could last 360ish years at current production rates. However given certain scenarios it could reduce down to about 17 years. https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Is-There-Enough-Lithium-to-Maintain-the-Growth-of-the-Lithium-Ion-Battery-M https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Is-There-Enough... More interesting is that Lithium is recycled but cannot find how much per year. In theory 70% of lithium batteries from 5 years ago are recycled back into new batteries.

puranjay 10y ago
I'm of the firm opinion that if supply was to get so scarce, we'd find an alternative tech solution. The economics just work out that way.

adrianN 10y ago

Energy storage in the form of molten salt from thermal solar plants seems a lot easier than building lots of batteries.

m_mueller 10y ago
IMO this needs some citation. The ones I'm aware of are these big expensive spanish power plants. I think this is neither simple nor cost effective compared to batteries, plus the energy is AFAIK only stored short term.
- Gibbon1 10y ago
  Far as I could tell running numbers for pumped heat storage is it should work well enough. Link: http://energystorage.org/energy-storage/technologies/pumped-heat-electrical-storage-phes http://energystorage.org/energy-storage/technologies/pumped-... No one builds them though because there isn't a lot of need currently. Mostly I think because it's cheaper to build a natural gas fired peaking plant than time shift say electricity from coal fired plants. However as we add more wind and solar this should change.

jefurii 10y ago

This is a really interesting project: store energy in the form of concrete blocks moved up and down slopes by electric train bogies with regenerative braking. http://www.aresnorthamerica.com/ http://www.aresnorthamerica.com/