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Batteries: the challenges of energy storage multiply

5 episodes

1

Renewable energy: the growing need for storage solutions
2

The essential role of batteries in the energy transition
3

What does the future hold for energy storage and decentralised networks?
4

Quantum batteries: rethinking energy storage is possible
5

Why are lithium prices skyrocketing?

Energy Storage Facility. Rows of batteries under open sky.

Épisode 1/5

Renewable energy: the growing need for storage solutions

On January 15th, 2025

4 min reading time

Didier Dalmazzone

Professor of Chemistry and Processes at ENSTA (IP Paris)

Key takeaways

Renewable energies present storage challenges, particularly because of the intermittent and decentralised nature of their production.
Despite these challenges, their proliferation offers advantages, such as stabilising production in the face of meteorological fluctuations.
In France, although the scope for increasing energy storage via STEPs is limited, alternatives such as stationary battery storage are being developed.
It is essential to ensure that the environmental benefits of renewable energies are not cancelled out by the negative impacts of the storage resources required.
To limit these effects, solutions are emerging, such as the reuse of used batteries from electric vehicles for stationary electricity storage.

Technology battery high power electric energy with a connected c

Épisode 2/5

The essential role of batteries in the energy transition

On July 3rd, 2025

4 min reading time

Cyrille Sollogoub

Professor at CNAM

Didier Dalmazzone

Professor of Chemistry and Processes at ENSTA (IP Paris)

Key takeaways

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries have revolutionised modern electronics and are now used to power hybrid and electric vehicles.
They face numerous challenges, which lie in manufacturing safe, high-performance batteries on a large scale to meet growing demand.
They also raise other challenges: availability of critical metals and supply chains, or control of these chains, which are largely held by China.
To meet these challenges, the EU is aiming to build around thirty ‘gigafactories’ capable of manufacturing Li-ion batteries for electric vehicles.
Among the promising developments, Vektor is a conglomerate of groups trying to join forces to advance the production and manufacture of Li-ion batteries.

Épisode 3/5

What does the future hold for energy storage and decentralised networks?

On November 28th, 2024

5 min reading time

Patricia Crifo

Professor of Economics at Ecole Polytechnique (IP Paris)

Ao Li

Master's Student at Ecole Polytechnique (IP Paris)

Wenrui Dai

Master's Student at Ecole Polytechnique (IP Paris)

Inès Glangeaud

Master's Student at Ecole Polytechnique (IP Paris)

Key takeaways

Storage systems are essential for stabilising electricity grids, capturing surplus energy and mitigating the intermittency of renewable energies.
At COP29, the urgent need to increase energy storage capacity and modernise grid infrastructure was highlighted.
Cumulative energy storage installations worldwide have been on the rise in recent years thanks to strong political support and technological advances.
Decentralised networks are essential because they support local electricity production and reduce dependence on central infrastructure.
Recent technological advances such as GESS and vanadium redox batteries are playing a significant role in strengthening energy resilience.

Épisode 4/5

Quantum batteries: rethinking energy storage is possible

On April 19th, 2023

3 min reading time

James Quach

Chief Scientist at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia

Key takeaways

Quantum batteries have the potential to accelerate charging time and even harvest energy from light.
Unlike electrochemical batteries that store ions and electrons, a quantum battery stores the energy from photons.
Quantum batteries charge faster as their size increases thanks to quantum effects such as entanglement and superabsorption.
They will not be able to power electric vehicles but could improve the efficiency of solar cells and be used for small electronic devices.
Ultimately, the challenge is to evolve these batteries, as these devices could serve as true small off-grid power sources.

Épisode 5/5

Why are lithium prices skyrocketing?

On June 16th, 2022

4 min reading time

María Eugenia Sanin

Lecturer in economics at Université Paris Saclay and coordinator of the Sectoral Policies group at the Energy and Prosperity Chair.

Key takeaways

According to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (BMI), the price of spodumene, a lithium-rich raw material, increased by almost 480% between January 2021 and January 2022.
The Association of European Automotive and Industrial Battery Manufacturers forecasts that the value of the European battery market will grow from €15bn in 2019 to €35bn in 2030.
Underestimating the size of this market has hampered the flow of capital to the industry along the value chain, meaning that demand is not being met at present.
In order to improve the situation in Europe there is a need to invest in European lithium mining and the sector's value chain.

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Batteries: the challenges of energy storage multiply

Renewable energy: the growing need for storage solutions

Key takeaways

The essential role of batteries in the energy transition

Key takeaways

What does the future hold for energy storage and decentralised networks?

Key takeaways

Quantum batteries: rethinking energy storage is possible

Key takeaways

Why are lithium prices skyrocketing?

Key takeaways

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