What is a storage battery?
It is no exaggeration to say that modern society cannot exist without electric power.
From the smartphones and laptop computers we use on a daily basis to electric vehicles (EVs), electricity is an important element of our lives.
Against this backdrop, storage batteries (batteries) are increasingly attracting attention as an important technology that enables us to efficiently and sustainably use the electricity we consume.
The Basics of Storage Batteries and Their Role
A storage battery is a device that stores electrical energy as chemical energy and releases that energy as electricity when needed.
The batteries we use in our daily lives are basically a type of storage battery. The most significant feature of storage batteries is their ability to store electricity.
They support our daily lives by capturing electricity when they are charged and supplying that energy to the outside world when they are discharged.
In general, a storage battery consists of the following three main elements
・Electrodes (anode and cathode)
・Electrolyte (serves as a mediator of ions)
・Separator (insulator that prevents direct contact between electrodes)
These components work well together to repeatedly store and release energy.
During charging, a chemical reaction proceeds and electricity is stored in the electrodes. When discharged, the energy is released through a reverse chemical reaction and becomes the energy source we use.
Types and Characteristics of Storage Batteries
There are various types of storage batteries, and they are used differently depending on the application and required performance.
The following are representative types.
1. lithium-ion batteries
Lithium-ion batteries are the most widely used type of storage battery in modern technology.
They are used in many of the products we are familiar with, such as the smartphones, laptop computers, and electric vehicles mentioned earlier.
The reasons for this are their high energy density, long life, and light weight.
In particular, lithium-ion batteries are extremely useful in our daily lives because of their ability to store energy efficiently and their high discharge efficiency.
2. lead-acid batteries
Lead-acid batteries have been used for a long time and are used in car batteries and some renewable energy systems.
Although they have a lower energy density than lithium-ion batteries, their low cost and high durability enable a relatively stable supply.
3. sodium sulfur batteries
Sodium-sulfur batteries are the type most often used, especially in large-scale energy storage systems (ESS).
They are characterized by high energy density and long life, but require cooling technology because they operate at high temperatures.
They are mainly used in power utilities and renewable energy storage systems.
Storage Batteries: Challenges and Future Prospects
While storage batteries are indispensable to our daily lives, they also pose several challenges. One of them is “energy density.
Current storage batteries have reached an energy density that is close to their theoretical limit, and there is a need to develop new technologies that can store energy with even higher efficiency.
Another major issue is recharging speed.
Especially for electric vehicles, the time it takes to recharge the batteries causes inconvenience to users and is an obstacle to their widespread use. To solve this problem, it is necessary to improve the charging infrastructure and fast charging technology.
Cost is another important factor.
Although lithium-ion batteries offer high performance, their high manufacturing cost remains an economic challenge in mass production.
Future innovations in materials and manufacturing methods to achieve cost reductions are expected.
Potential of Solid-State Batteries
Against this backdrop, solid-state batteries are attracting attention as the storage battery technology of the future.
Solid-state batteries are expected to achieve higher energy density and safety by using solid electrolytes instead of conventional liquid electrolytes.
Solid-state batteries are said to have less risk of ignition or leakage, and will also be able to be charged at higher speeds,
Solid-state batteries have the potential to revolutionize storage batteries, especially for electric vehicles and renewable energy.
Advancement of recycling technology
As the use of storage batteries expands, battery recycling technology is becoming increasingly important.
Advances in recycling technology will, for example, make it possible to efficiently recover valuable resources (such as lithium and cobalt) from used storage batteries,reducing the burden on the environment.
Storage batteries and renewable energy
Renewable energies (solar, wind, etc.) are dependent on day and night and weather conditions, making it difficult to provide a stable power supply without modification.
Storage batteries are therefore attracting attention as a solution. By storing surplus electricity generated from renewable energy sources in storage batteries and discharging it when demand increases or when it is difficult to generate electricity, energy supply can be stabilized.
In particular, by installing a home energy storage system, surplus electricity from solar power generation can be stored and used in the home, reducing the amount of electricity purchased from the power company. This makes it possible to be self-sufficient in energy and save on electricity bills.
Storage batteries are an important technology that supports our daily lives and is a key to solving future energy problems.
Their importance is growing, especially as renewable energy sources become increasingly widespread.
By overcoming current challenges and creating new technologies, we will be able to build a more efficient and sustainable energy society.
The evolution of storage battery technology must be a major force in helping us realize an environmentally friendly, more convenient, and more comfortable future.