Key Challenges for Grid-Scale Lithium-Ion Battery Energy Storage

A rapid transition in the energy infrastructure is crucial when irreversible damages are happening quickly in the next decade due to global climate change. It is believed that a practical strategy for decarbonization would be 8 h of lithium-ion battery (LIB) electrical energy storage paired with wind/solar energy generation, and using existing fossil fuels facilities as backup. To reach the hundred terawatt-hour scale LIB storage, it is argued that the key challenges are fire safety and recycling, instead of capital cost, battery cycle life, or mining/manufacturing challenges. A short overview of the ongoing innovations in these two directions is provided.