Everything Energy The fastest growing energy technology on the market
Jul 17, 2025
Araceli Fernandez Pales, Head of the IEA’s Technology Innovation Unit, delves into the transformative role of batteries in energy systems. Teo Lombardo, an IEA energy analyst, breaks down battery mechanics and trends, spotlighting China's dominance in production. They discuss the surge in battery demand, driven largely by electric vehicles and grid storage. The conversation also highlights environmental concerns in battery production and the future potential of technological innovations, including recycling, to reshape the energy landscape.
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Batteries Are Chemical Energy Storage
- A battery stores electricity by driving a reversible chemical reaction into useful, storable chemical energy.
- Teo Lombardo says lithium-ion batteries deliver high energy density for phones, EVs and grid storage.
Where Most Batteries Go Today
- Battery demand concentrates in three uses: electric vehicles, grid storage and portable electronics.
- Teo Lombardo says EVs now account for about three quarters, grid for ~15% and small devices ~5%.
Market Explosion And Dramatic Price Drops
- The battery market is roughly ten times larger than a decade ago driven by EV demand.
- Teo Lombardo notes prices plunged (75% since 2015), enabling transport and grid revolutions.