Energy Evolution

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Stationary storage market today and expectations for the future Nov 12, 2019

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Stationary storage takes the stage in the November edition of S&P Global Platts Battery Metals podcast. Senior pricing specialist Emmanuel Latham is joined by Felix Maire, lead analyst on US and European Power Storage markets at Platts Analytics, to discuss the major drivers on this growing...

US energy officials push innovation to meet evolving energy needs Oct 21, 2019

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As technological innovation is spurs opportunities in the energy sector, the U.S. government wants to facilitate a major shift in how the nation generates its power, top federal energy officials said during a new S&P Global Market Intelligence podcast. "We are in this incredible American moment where we are really seeing a fascinating transition in our energy landscape," Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Neil Chatterjee said on S&P Global Market Intelligence's second episode of Energy Evolution. "The challenge is that this transition is putting pressure on traditional forms of baseload power, namely coal and nuclear. As the regulator responsible for the reliability of the grid, ensuring that we can make that transition while maintaining reliability is a challenge." The administration has taken several steps to try to support coal and nuclear power. However, agencies like FERC and the U.S. Department of Energy are also supporting the development of policies and technology that would support the growing role renewable energy plays in U.S. electricity generation. "If the cost of renewables, the cost of storage, gets to a point where it can compete, I think that's great for consumers," Chatterjee said. "It's great for the economy. It's great for the environment and it's great for America." The U.S. electricity grid has already undergone a massive change as cheap natural gas from new shale gas drilling technologies pushed coal-fired generation out of the market. Now, growing renewable energy deployment is causing a "bit of a strain on the system," said Brian Anderson, director of the DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory. "What we're looking for in the future are the options for large scale grid storage of electricity," Anderson said on the Energy Evolution podcast. "There are only a few options: battery packs — the costs are coming down tremendously — and other grid-scale storage options for storing electrons. We're going to start seeing a grid that is much different than we are used to because we need to be able to follow the dynamic nature of intermittent renewables." The DOE is working on finding a part of that solution. For example, they are studying materials that could be used to create a new generation of battery storage technology that does not have the same limitations as current batteries utilizing lithium-ion. "Lithium ion's done a great job for the last two or three decades, providing storage capabilities," said Dan Brouillette, the deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy who has recently been tapped to succeed outgoing Energy Secretary Rick Perry. "But it is limited and the ability to do utility-scale or large-scale storage still eludes us. That's why we've seen perhaps a slower adoption of some of the renewable technologies and we might otherwise have had." DOE is examining the possibility of using magnesium-ion instead of lithium-ion, for instance, which may prove to be a better means of storing power for later use. Battery storage research and development, he added is a high priority for the DOE as the technology is expected to be a "very important component" of the U.S. electricity generation mix in the coming years. The agency is also looking to more futuristic technology such as being able to beam power from one point to another without the use of wires. "Think about that," Brouillette said on the podcast. "Think about a world in which hurricanes matter perhaps a little bit less for the provision of electricity or the recovery from a major catastrophe like that. Those are some of the things we're thinking about at the DOE. And it's a very exciting place to be." Subscribe to Energy Evolution on Soundcloud to catch future episodes. (Photo: AP)

Interview with Formula E Team Principal Mark Preston Oct 15, 2019

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In this month’s Battery Metals podcast, regional manager Marcel Goldenberg talks to Mark Preston, Team Principal of the Techeetah Formula E racing team, about battery technology and innovation in the world of electric vehicle racing and its possible applications to the everyday use of EVs, as...

Rising nickel prices, Indonesia's planned export ban on unprocessed ore, pose global challenges Sep 21, 2019

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Nickel prices have been strong since mid-July, aided by Indonesia's plan to move forward on its ban of unprocessed ore exports beginning in 2020, as well as global supply issues. Three-month nickel prices reached a year-to-date high in September. S&P Global Platts editors Marcel Goldenberg,...

Energy futurist sees major obstacles for renewables in next 30 years Sep 19, 2019

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Population growth and mineral resource scarcity will hamper the global energy sector's transition from hydrocarbons to renewables even as activist investors push many oil and gas companies to pivot toward more sustainable electricity sources, financial forecaster and futurist Jason Schenker says in the inaugural episode of Energy Evolution, a new S&P Global Market Intelligence podcast. Schenker is the Chairman of The Futurist Institute and the President of Prestige Economics. He has also authored several books on disruptive emerging technologies, including "The Future of Energy". Subscribe to Energy Evolution on Soundcloud to catch upcoming episodes! (Photo: AP)

Lithium producers seek direction amid changing scenarios Aug 30, 2019

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Despite the consensus on lithium demand spiking in about five years from now, the current outlook is challenging producers in many different ways. The bearish price trend triggered different strategies among some of the major worldwide producers, but which of them is more likely to succeed? And how...

What does H2 hold for Chinese battery metals prices? Jul 31, 2019

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S&P Global Platts Battery Metals Podcast brings its focus back to China, the world's largest producer of new energy vehicles and the largest consumer of battery raw materials. In this episode, Platts commodity associate Melvin Goh and metals associate editor Joyce Zhang examine the impact of...

Will potassium-ion batteries replace lithium-ion batteries? (Part 2 of 2) Jun 26, 2019

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As technology evolves, several researchers are trying to identify the game-changer that could disrupt lithium-ion technologies in the battery space by being more cost effective and delivering longer driving ranges. The low price and high energy density of the potassium-ion technology has brought...

The battery of the future: Seeking higher energy density Jun 12, 2019

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Lithium-ion battery manufacturers are in a quest to develop new, more efficient cathodes -- such as NCM 811—featuring higher energy density which allows electric vehicles to drive for longer distances. In addition to the cathode, there are several other areas of study being researched...

Lithium market to remain oversupplied in 2019 despite Q1 disruptions Apr 18, 2019

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Despite some production issues related to heavy rains in South America, lithium production is expected to keep growing faster than demand this year, especially in the case of lithium hydroxide. S&P Global Platts pricing analyst Marcel Goldenberg in London and battery metals pricing specialist...

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