By the middle of the 2020s, using hybrid ‘portfolios’ of batteries and renewable energy sources will economically outperform existing gas power plants, while the combination of technologies is already cost-competitive with building new gas plants, a new report from the US-based Rocky Mountain Institute has said.

The Nobel Foundation recognised not only the role of lightweight, portable battery technology for mobile phones, laptops and latterly electric vehicles, but also that it “can also store significant amounts of energy from solar and wind power, making possible a fossil fuel-free society”.

Two of Solar Media’s editorial team discuss what they learned at Europe’s biggest smart energy trade fair, Smarter-e; with Intersolar and electrical energy storage Europe (ees Europe) all taking place at the same time.

‘Own and operate’ model creates option of a ‘one-stop’ solution for customers in exchange for a pence per-mile service fee or fixed monthly charge.

Energy supplier Centrica has unveiled its new electric vehicle offering, targeted at helping businesses across the globe navigate the EV transition, with solar and battery storage expected to play a major role.

ICYMI: This year’s Intersolar Europe was accompanied by the biggest energy storage show to take place at the Munich industry bonanza. For those of you that couldn’t be there, or were perhaps too busy with meetings to take in the whole show, here are some pictorial highlights and some quick commentary.

As it prepares to break ground on a ‘Gigafactory’, energy storage system provider Tesvolt has said that gaining certification across diverse regions remains the biggest challenge in forming strategy today.

The sale of Nissan’s power battery business, Automotive Energy Supply Corporation (AESC) to Envision Group has been completed, with the new owner aiming for 20GWh of annual production capacity of nickel manganese cobalt batteries in China.

A recycling process for lithium-ion batteries already up and running, by Finnish state-owned energy services company Fortum could make dramatic reductions in their environmental footprint, the company has said.

Walking around Energy Storage Europe this year it was obvious that the show, like the market, has grown from a small handful of “strong believers” as one source put it, to a forward-looking show focused on a ‘business-as-usual’ scenario.