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Economist Podcasts

Current affairs: how batteries will green the grid

Sep 5, 2024
Vijay Vaiteswaran, The Economist's global energy editor, teams up with Anjini Trivedi, a global business writer, to discuss crucial innovations in battery technology that promise to green our electricity grids. They dive into how advanced battery systems are key to harnessing renewable energy sources like wind and solar. The conversation also touches on the booming tourism sector in Asia, highlighting changing traveler preferences. Plus, they explore how to have meaningful discussions with kids about the implications of AI in their lives.
23:42

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Advancements in battery technology, like long-duration iron batteries, are crucial for efficiently storing intermittent renewable energy sources.
  • The rapid adoption of renewable energy, particularly solar, is reshaping power grids and necessitating complementary storage solutions for reliability.

Deep dives

Innovations in Energy Storage

Recent advancements in energy storage technology are crucial for addressing the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. Innovations like carbon negative skyscrapers and facilities utilizing compressed carbon dioxide for storage are emerging, particularly in regions like the Middle East and Italy. Companies like Form Energy are developing long-duration batteries using iron, which offer an alternative to lithium-ion technology, potentially revolutionizing energy storage by providing up to 100 hours of power. These developments highlight a significant shift towards scalable energy solutions that are vital for a decarbonized future.

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