Read the full story at Solar Power World.

Although still very much in its infancy, the U.S. utility-scale battery storage market has existed in earnest since 2011 led by one dominant battery chemistry choice: lithium. According to data through 2021 from the U.S. EIA, 97.95% of utility-scale batteries installed in the United States were lithium-based. While there are significant battery projects in the works (the country currently has 9 GW of utility-scale batteries under operation and a 26.4-GW construction pipeline), the lion’s share will still be lithium-ion, due to its early acceptance and established installation codes.

But lithium is by no means the only available option. Other battery technologies — whether metal-, sodium- or flow-based — are elbowing their way into the conversation. For large-scale developers concerned about both the climate-threatened world and increasingly stretched supply chains, domestically produced lithium alternatives are becoming more attractive.

Read the full story at Environment + Energy Leader.

The increasing demand for electronic devices such as electric vehicles, cell phones, and computers has led to a surge in demand for lithium, a soft, alkali metal used in lithium-ion batteries. While lithium is abundant in certain countries, the mining process and safety concerns have prompted researchers to explore alternatives. LSU Mechanical Engineering Associate Professor Ying Wang is developing a non-metal rechargeable battery as a potential replacement for lithium batteries; The Ammonium-ion Battery

Read the full story in Wired.

When rainwater falls, it soaks down into an aquifer, a layer of porous rock or loose materials like sand or gravel. For thousands of years, humans have been digging into these bands of liquid to bring up drinking water. But interest is growing in another clever use for these subterranean pools: aquifer thermal energy storage, or ATES.