The world is undergoing a green energy transition and the limitations of today’s battery technology is one of the key constraints in a range of different sectors.
Affordable, optimal sized battery solutions have become the main constraint for a green energy transition on a global scale and political and economic factors are increasing incentives to invest in developing the technology.
This paper describes the general principles of battery technology, provides an overview of those most frequently used in off-grid electrification in developing countries, and provides examples of projects supported by the ACP-EU Energy Facility that make use of these systems.
The potential environmental hazard and possible solutions to these are discussed as well as trends that could be decisive for batteries in the future.