Energy exchange technologies will play an important role in the transition towards localised, sustainable energy. Hybrid energy storage systems, which use multiple different energy storage technologies, are currently under investigation in order to improve their technical performance and environmental sustainability.
New research from the University of Sheffield’s Energy Institute has highlighted the environmental and economic benefits of the use of lithium titanate battery technologies within hybrid energy storage systems. As well as indicating the best type of battery to use, the research also encourages circular economy principles by showing that the remanufacture of first life batteries can be implemented into a useful system.
The research was led by Professor Lenny Koh, director of the Advanced Resource Efficiency Centre (AREC) at the University’s Energy Institute.
To determine the environmental and economic impacts of this type of hybrid energy storage system, researchers carried out a three-tier circularity assessment from cradle-to-grave. They assessed 43 techno-hybridisations of four first and second life battery technologies; Lithium Titanate, Lead-acid, Lithium Iron Phosphate and Sodium-ion, with battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
The results of the life cycle assessment and other analyses showed a hybrid energy storage system containing a low proportion of 1st life Lithium Titanate and BEV battery technologies, with a high proportion of 2nd life Lithium Titanate batteries, minimises the environmental and economic impacts and increases efficiency.
