3 ms·

> Where is this mythical cheap source of batteries? They’re made out of rocks. Yes, you have to take steps to acquire and refine the materials, then turn them

by adriand 8mo ago

> Where is this mythical cheap source of batteries? They’re made out of rocks. Yes, you have to take steps to acquire and refine the materials, then turn them into batteries. However, the process for doing that is not mysterious.

nradov 8mo ago
Not mysterious, just slow and expensive.
- defrost 8mo ago
  Across the world, according to BNEF, the cost of grid scale battery packs has fallen another 45 per cent in 2025 following a 40 per cent fall in 2024. The UK-based energy think tank Ember has now also reached the same conclusion, underlying its unexpected impact on solar power. from: https://reneweconomy.com.au/the-plunging-cost-of-battery-storage-and-how-its-changed-the-grid-and-saved-the-day-for-big-solar/ https://reneweconomy.com.au/the-plunging-cost-of-battery-sto... citing: https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-review-2025/ https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-... and similar reports. Resource prices for batteries did spike at various times in the past, this had more to do with opening and then closing a lot of production sites by mining companies than with any real meaningful supply issue. Urban grid scal battery parks are on the rise globally, industrial parks have always had special status and can still concentrate modern efficient peaker turbines and buffer storage to bridge, if applicable, and use any general daytime excess.
  - nradov 8mo ago
    Rising from an extremely low baseline. Actual deployed grid scale battery storage worldwide remains minuscule in relation to daily electricity consumption. Sure let's deploy it where we can but it's delusional to believe that this represents a realistic alternative to nuclear or fossil fuel power for industrial base load requirements in most countries anytime soon. The numbers simply don't add up.
    - triceratops 8mo ago
      Things are changing very, very fast. https://theconversation.com/big-batteries-are-now-outcompeting-gas-in-the-grid-and-gas-rich-western-australia-is-at-the-forefront-271753 https://theconversation.com/big-batteries-are-now-outcompeti...

by adriand 8mo ago

nradov 8mo ago

Not mysterious, just slow and expensive.

defrost 8mo ago
Across the world, according to BNEF, the cost of grid scale battery packs has fallen another 45 per cent in 2025 following a 40 per cent fall in 2024. The UK-based energy think tank Ember has now also reached the same conclusion, underlying its unexpected impact on solar power. from: https://reneweconomy.com.au/the-plunging-cost-of-battery-storage-and-how-its-changed-the-grid-and-saved-the-day-for-big-solar/ https://reneweconomy.com.au/the-plunging-cost-of-battery-sto... citing: https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-review-2025/ https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-... and similar reports. Resource prices for batteries did spike at various times in the past, this had more to do with opening and then closing a lot of production sites by mining companies than with any real meaningful supply issue. Urban grid scal battery parks are on the rise globally, industrial parks have always had special status and can still concentrate modern efficient peaker turbines and buffer storage to bridge, if applicable, and use any general daytime excess.
- nradov 8mo ago
  Rising from an extremely low baseline. Actual deployed grid scale battery storage worldwide remains minuscule in relation to daily electricity consumption. Sure let's deploy it where we can but it's delusional to believe that this represents a realistic alternative to nuclear or fossil fuel power for industrial base load requirements in most countries anytime soon. The numbers simply don't add up.
  - triceratops 8mo ago
    Things are changing very, very fast. https://theconversation.com/big-batteries-are-now-outcompeting-gas-in-the-grid-and-gas-rich-western-australia-is-at-the-forefront-271753 https://theconversation.com/big-batteries-are-now-outcompeti...