Technology & Chemistry

A diverse range of battery solutions is essential for powering transportation, data centers, defense systems, and energy storage applications. A multi-chemistry approach ensures that the right battery technology is used for each application, supporting a reliable and resilient energy future.

Advancing Energy Storage with a Multi-Chemistry Approach

America’s battery industry continues to be a global leader in driving the cutting edge of battery technologies. Currently, there is no single battery technology for all applications. Meeting the nation’s energy storage needs will require a multi-chemistry approach and a variety of products.

For over 125 years lead batteries have been the dominant choice for energy storage. Lead batteries have undergone generations of innovation and improvement, and they remain the foundational
technology for powering automobiles, data centers, defense applications, and other sectors. The steady improvements in these batteries make them very relevant to the current energy storage marketplace.

Pb Lead

Lead Batteries

A lead battery is a rechargeable battery that uses lead, sulfuric acid and water to produce electricity through a controlled chemical reaction. This chemical reaction is what causes the battery to produce electricity.

Then, this reaction is reversed to recharge the battery. Lead batteries are used across a wide range of industries and applications from transportation to communication networks.

Flow

Flow Batteries

A flow battery is a rechargeable battery well-suited for long-duration energy storage. An electrolyte flows through electrochemical cells from one or more tanks.

Capacity can be increased simply by increasing the quantity of electrolyte stored in the tanks. Chemistries can vary widely, but all flow batteries are uniquely scalable.

Na Sodium

Sodium Batteries

Sodium-ion batteries are rechargeable batteries that generally work by exchanging sodium ions between the positive and negative poles. Sodium salt is the main component of the electrode material and readily available.

A newer battery chemistry, sodium-ion batteries are a potential alternative to lithium-ion batteries. Some applications being explored for sodium-ion battery applications include low-voltage automotive and grid storage

 

Li Lithium

Lithium Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries offer low weight and high energy density. There is no single-chemistry lithium-ion battery, and cathodes can consist of cobalt, manganese, nickel and iron, each with different characteristics and electrochemical performance.

The demand for the energy density of lithium-ion batteries continues to out-pace the supply of raw materials – coming mostly from foreign suppliers.

Ni Nickel

Nickel Batteries

Nickel Cadmium and Nickel Metal Hydride batteries use nickel oxide hydroxide for the cathode, and either metallic cadmium or hydrogen as the anode and an alkaline solution of sodium or potassium hydroxide for an electrolyte.

Ni batteries have a long cycle life and good high-rate performance.

 

Alan French from QTS Data Centers

Data is critical. Data is growing at a rapid rate, and energy storage [and] battery backup systems are key in keeping our data centers available.

Alan French, Vice President of Engineering, QTS Data Centers