Battery Storage Set to Boom in 2017

Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr +

Battery storage seems set to boom worldwide in 2017. Because of this, the next ‘klondikes’ could well be lithium mines according to some investment specialists. Yesterday we reported on South California Edison quietly commissioning an 80-megawatt hour facility at Mira Loma. Today we have AltaGas Ltd officially firing up a sister battery storage initiative at Pomona. The two installations could support a total 30,000 homes for four hours if called on. That is close on 100,000 residents!

Exciting Global Battery Storage News from Elsewhere

battery storage
Global Lithium Reserves in 2015: Wikipedia

India has attracted strong interest from thirteen tenderers for two 50-megawatt solar energy storage systems. While in Germany, they plan to boost current capacity from 60 to 200 megawatts this year.

In the UK, Norika Power Ltd just signed an order for 20 megawatts of storage batteries. The success of Tesla’s giga battery factory seems secure.

Could Argentina Become Another Saudi Arabia?

We probably ought to take this seriously as the suggestion comes from Yahoo Finance. They will have studied the situation carefully. The battery storage facilities we mentioned are all using lithium batteries. While we have large reserves of the chemical element Lithium Li, availability could start lagging behind demand. Prices are bound to go up once this exceeds supply. However, Argentina is not the only country with potential to benefit.

Which Countries Will Win the Lithium Race?

battery storage
Global Lithium Production: U.S. Government

The battery storage market has a voracious appetite for lithium. Moreover surging interest in electric and hybrid vehicles could soon absorb the slack in the supply chain.

Fortune favors the bold according to the proverb. Argentina is in the heart of South America’s ‘lithium triangle’. Thus it currently appears to be in the best position to capitalize by opening new mines.

However until we have sufficient battery giga factories, they could end up with surplus lithium on their shelves. So everything is quite tightly balanced, at least for now.

Related

South California Edison New Year Gift

New Gasoline of the Future Lithium?

Preview Image: Argentina Salt Flats Rich in Lithium

Share.

About Author

I tripped over a shrinking bank balance and fell into the writing gig unintentionally. This was after I escaped the corporate world and searched in vain for ways to become rich on the internet by doing nothing. Despite the fact that writing is no recipe for wealth, I rather enjoy it. I will not deny I am obsessed with it when I have the time. I live in Margate on the Kwazulu-Natal south coast of South Africa. I work from home where I ponder on the future of the planet, and what lies beyond in the great hereafter. Sometimes I step out of my computer into the silent riverine forests, and empty golden beaches for which the area is renowned. Richard

Leave A Reply