Batteries
Are batteries key to a renewable energy future? Experts Jacques Eksteen and Terry Humphries discuss the future of battery technology and the important role Australia has to play.
The Future Of · Professor Jacques Eksteen, David Blayney, Dr Terry Humphries
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Show Notes
For decades, inefficient batteries prevented a large-scale shift to renewable energy sources like solar and wind, because they couldn’t store enough energy to tide us over when the sun wasn’t shining or the wind wasn’t blowing.
But that’s all changed. Lithium battery technology has evolved to the point where we could feasibly – with progressive leadership – abandon fossil fuels within the next few decades.
Hydrogen storage is another technology that could emerge as a viable alternative to lithium batteries before long, futher fueling the renewable revolution.
David is joined by Professor Jacques Eksteen from the Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre and Dr Terry Humphries, a Curtin research fellow and chemist with a particular interest in hydrogen storage.
- The battery boom is good news for the planet and good news for Western Australia (1.11)
- What are the environmental impacts of mining materials for batteries? (7.00)
- What are hydrogen fuel cells and what benefits do they offer? (11.50)
- Hydrogen is commonly produced using fossil fuels. Does this present a problem? (13.50)
- Given their foothold in the economy, it may be hard to move away from fossil fuels (22.30)
- There's an Aussie startup with a zinc bromine battery. Could that be another player? (27.30)
- Tesla Cybertruck, yes or no? (33.30)
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You can read the full transcript of the episode here.