The Consortium for Battery Innovation sees a growing trend for energy storage tenders to include lead-acid batteries, and it expects the lead-acid battery industry to win a large number of contracts.
Alistair Davidson, Director of the CBI, told BBB: “There’s an understanding that lead needs to be part of the energy mix.”
His colleague Matthew Raiford said in 2010 most government funding agencies were specifying lithium batteries in their tenders. “Now, we’re seeing a shift to being technology agnostic.” He said there is a recognition that multiple technologies are needed to meet energy goals.
Davidson said the CBI expects to submit 4–6 contract bids next year. One has already been submitted in the US this year, with another 3–4 to follow. “We won 75% of the bids we put in in the last 18 months in Europe. The win rate is typically 35%.”
Wins have included a €10 million ($11 million) four-year contract for a microgrid in Zambia and a £300,000 ($375,000) contract for solar-powered tractors in Malawi.
Raiford said while there are many government contracts to be won, there are also many from the military.
The CBI sees the energy storage market at 585GW/ 550GWh by 2030, and worth some $30-50 billion. “Realistically, we can capture 20% of that market,” said Davidson. He means the global lead-acid battery industry.
In the US, EU and China the fast-charging back-up market is being rolled out very fast. “Over the next seven years, my expectation is that millions of these will be rolled out,” said Raiford. Every filling station will have 6–10 charging points, he said. And retailers like Amazon and Walmart, who operate fleets of electric vans, will need their own fleet charging points. More rich pickings to be had.
Photo: Alistair Davidson (left) and Matthew Raiford expect the lead-acid battery industry to capture 20% of the energy storage market
