Global battery markets with Iola Hughes (Head of Research @ Rho Motion)

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Dec 5, 2024

Iola Hughes, Head of Research at Rho Motion, specializes in battery demand insights. She discusses the dramatic drop in battery cell prices and the implications of potential U.S. tariffs on imports. The conversation highlights the competition faced by European manufacturers, particularly Northvolt's challenges. Hughes also delves into emerging technologies like sodium-ion batteries and contrasts their benefits with traditional lithium-ion cells. Finally, they analyze the evolving electric vehicle market against the backdrop of stationary energy storage growth.

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INSIGHT

Battery Cell Price Drop

Battery cell prices have dropped dramatically, especially in China, due to lithium price fluctuations.
Tier 1 LFP cells are around $60/kWh, while lower-quality Tier 3 cells can be as low as $35/kWh.

INSIGHT

Battery Cell Tiers

Not all battery cells are created equal; tiers exist based on quality, manufacturer reputation, and offtaker trust.
Higher tiers generally mean better manufacturing processes, higher quality materials, and more reliable performance.

INSIGHT

China Battery System Costs

In China, a fully installed grid-scale battery system costs around $82/kWh, including cells, pack, casing, BMS, PCS, and installation.
This price may reflect lower-quality products; some manufacturers aim for closer to $100/kWh.

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The global battery energy storage market is undergoing rapid transformation. The decline in cell prices, fueled by fluctuations in lithium costs, has seen a surge in battery production, particularly in regions like China. However, the potential introduction of tariffs on U.S. manufacturers highlights the challenges of navigating the balance between global supply chains and domestic production.

While lithium-based technologies continue to dominate, emerging alternatives such as sodium-ion and flow batteries offer distinct benefits and challenges. As the sector evolves, the question arises: What does the future costs and demand for battery energy storage look like?

Iola Hughes, Head of Research at Rho Motion joins Ed Porter for today’s episode. Over the conversation, they discuss:

The dramatic drop in cell prices and the concept of tiered battery quality and its impact on pricing.
Manufacturing costs in China versus the U.S. and what impacts tariffs on U.S. battery imports and potential stakeholder strategies.
The challenges facing European battery manufacturers with the recent news from Northvolt.
Sodium-ion battery technology and its potential applications compared to LFP cells.
An overview of global battery demand, with a focus on EV’s vs the growing stationary storage market.

Mentioned in the episode

Iron Air Storage with David Hill (Form Energy)

Vanadium Flow Batteries with Matt Harper (Invinity Energy Systems)

About our guest

Rho Motion aim to deliver a complete picture of battery demand, including motors and systems, charging and infrastructure, energy stationary storage, battery recycling and the wider energy and renewables markets. Providing research and consultancy services - they cover a global market.

For more information on what Rho Motion do, head to their website.

About Modo Energy

Modo Energy provides forecasts, benchmarking, data, and insights for new energy assets - all in one place. Built for analysts, Modo helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets.

All of our podcasts are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, podcasts, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter. Check out The Energy Academy, our video series of bite-sized chunks explaining how different battery energy storage systems work. For more information on the state of global battery markets, check out our written research.