The Faraday Institution

Flow batteries are a form of long duration energy storage; a set of technologies with potential performance benefits that could be crucial for the provision of reliable zero-emission electricity from variable renewable energy sources. They represent a small and relatively immature market with enormous growth potential in many developing economies – for deployment and manufacturing.

• In-country owners, operators and developers of power systems looking to expand solar and wind energy on less reliable grids;
• Owners of mining operations, large industrial facilities and data centres that require reliable power;
• Energy storage professionals who are considering alternatives to lead-acid and lithium-ion, but are unsure of the different technologies available;
• Battery manufacturers and raw material producers who are considering developing their own local battery products but are unsure of the material flows and potential for local supply chains.

This report was funded by the UK government via the Ayrton Fund. The report supports the delivery of the Ayrton Challenge on Energy Storage.

The Insight explores the role of the HGV sector as a significant part of the UK's economy and the challenges of decarbonising the sector and proposes actions to develop and support the UK HGV industry.

Battery-powered and hydrogen fuel cell technologies are driving the energy transition in the UK's heavy goods vehicle market. By 2050, electric HGVs are expected to dominate road freight, with hydrogen playing niche roles in long-haul and heavy-duty segments. UK research in high-energy density batteries, particularly solid-state and lithium-sulfur, will be crucial for global leadership in the electrification of freight.

The Insight explores the role of the HGV sector as a significant part of the UK's economy and the challenges of decarbonising the sector and proposes actions to develop and support the UK HGV industry.

Battery-powered and hydrogen fuel cell technologies are driving the energy transition in the UK's heavy goods vehicle market. By 2050, electric HGVs are expected to dominate road freight, with hydrogen playing niche roles in long-haul and heavy-duty segments. UK research in high-energy density batteries, particularly solid-state and lithium-sulfur, will be crucial for global leadership in the electrification of freight.

The Faraday Institution and the Department for International Development (DfID) commissioned consultants Vivid Economics to perform a rapid market and technology assessment of storage in weak and off-grid contexts in developing countries, to which this Insight refers.

As part of the Ayrton Challenge on Energy Storage theme on capability building, Battery Ambassadors mapped the battery ecosystem landscape in 12 countries, to document the progress of the electrification transition in their regions, and to lay out the opportunities and challenges in battery research, technology integration and policy regulation.

The paper signposts ongoing needs to meet electrification targets, including in:

With thanks to our Battery Ambassadors who lead this initiative.

This report was funded by the UK government via the Ayrton Fund.

The Faraday Institution and the Department for International Development (DfID) commissioned consultants Vivid Economics to perform a rapid market and technology assessment of storage in weak and off-grid contexts in developing countries, to which this Insight refers.

As part of the Ayrton Challenge on Energy Storage theme on capability building, Battery Ambassadors mapped the battery ecosystem landscape in 12 countries, to document the progress of the electrification transition in their regions, and to lay out the opportunities and challenges in battery research, technology integration and policy regulation.

The paper signposts ongoing needs to meet electrification targets, including in:

With thanks to our Battery Ambassadors who lead this initiative.

This report was funded by the UK government via the Ayrton Fund.

This insight was first published in November 2019, with minor updates made in May 2021.

The Insight explores the role of the HGV sector as a significant part of the UK's economy and the challenges of decarbonising the sector and proposes actions to develop and support the UK HGV industry.

Battery-powered and hydrogen fuel cell technologies are driving the energy transition in the UK's heavy goods vehicle market. By 2050, electric HGVs are expected to dominate road freight, with hydrogen playing niche roles in long-haul and heavy-duty segments. UK research in high-energy density batteries, particularly solid-state and lithium-sulfur, will be crucial for global leadership in the electrification of freight.

Flow batteries are a form of long duration energy storage; a set of technologies with potential performance benefits that could be crucial for the provision of reliable zero-emission electricity from variable renewable energy sources. They represent a small and relatively immature market with enormous growth potential in many developing economies – for deployment and manufacturing.

• In-country owners, operators and developers of power systems looking to expand solar and wind energy on less reliable grids;
• Owners of mining operations, large industrial facilities and data centres that require reliable power;
• Energy storage professionals who are considering alternatives to lead-acid and lithium-ion, but are unsure of the different technologies available;
• Battery manufacturers and raw material producers who are considering developing their own local battery products but are unsure of the material flows and potential for local supply chains.

This report was funded by the UK government via the Ayrton Fund. The report supports the delivery of the Ayrton Challenge on Energy Storage.

Also released as Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering Briefing Paper No. 8

The Faraday Institution and the Department for International Development (DfID) commissioned consultants Vivid Economics to perform a rapid market and technology assessment of storage in weak and off-grid contexts in developing countries, to which this Insight refers.

As part of the Ayrton Challenge on Energy Storage theme on capability building, Battery Ambassadors mapped the battery ecosystem landscape in 12 countries, to document the progress of the electrification transition in their regions, and to lay out the opportunities and challenges in battery research, technology integration and policy regulation.

The paper signposts ongoing needs to meet electrification targets, including in:

With thanks to our Battery Ambassadors who lead this initiative.

This report was funded by the UK government via the Ayrton Fund.

This insight was first published in November 2019, with minor updates made in May 2021.

Flow batteries are a form of long duration energy storage; a set of technologies with potential performance benefits that could be crucial for the provision of reliable zero-emission electricity from variable renewable energy sources. They represent a small and relatively immature market with enormous growth potential in many developing economies – for deployment and manufacturing.

• In-country owners, operators and developers of power systems looking to expand solar and wind energy on less reliable grids;
• Owners of mining operations, large industrial facilities and data centres that require reliable power;
• Energy storage professionals who are considering alternatives to lead-acid and lithium-ion, but are unsure of the different technologies available;
• Battery manufacturers and raw material producers who are considering developing their own local battery products but are unsure of the material flows and potential for local supply chains.

This report was funded by the UK government via the Ayrton Fund. The report supports the delivery of the Ayrton Challenge on Energy Storage.

Also released as Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering Briefing Paper No. 8