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Tumble in storage battery costs to improve shift to renewables, says IEA

An anticipated sharp fall in battery costs for energy storage in coming years will accelerate the shift to renewable resource from nonrenewable fuel sources, the International Energy Firm (IEA) stated on Thursday.

While renewable energy by itself is already more affordable than coal and gas-fired plants, weather can interrupt solar and wind power and need to be coupled with energy storage systems to provide reliable sources of energy.

The total capital expenses of battery storage are due to topple by approximately 40% by 2030, the Paris-based guard dog stated in its Batteries and Secure Energy Transitions report.

The mix of solar PV (photovoltaic) and batteries is today competitive with new coal plants in India, said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.

And simply in the next few years, it will be cheaper than brand-new coal in China and gas-fired power in the United States. Batteries are altering the video game before our eyes.

About 90% of lithium ion batteries are utilized in the transport sector, which concentrates on dense and light units. There is more scope for cutting expenses in energy storage batteries, which can be larger and much heavier.

More affordable lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries accounted for 80% of new storage batteries in 2015, the IEA said.

Cheaper sodium-ion batteries will account for less than 10%. of electric car batteries by 2030, however they will make up a. growing share of energy storage batteries, it added.

The global market for energy storage doubled last year to. over 90 gigawatt-hours (GWh), the report said.

Overall worldwide energy storage capability is due to soar. six-fold by 2030, with batteries representing 90% of the rise. and pumped hydropower for the majority of the rest.

Pumped hydropower is a system that includes pumping water to. a higher tank during off peak times to create electrical energy. at peak times.

The slide in battery costs will also assist offer. electrical energy to countless people without access, cutting by. nearly half the average electrical power expenses of mini-grids with. solar PV paired with batteries by 2030, the IEA stated.