Energy Storage on EARTH Magazine

Battery recycling underlies elevated lead in African soils

Tue, 10 Apr 2018 11:22:11 -0400

Lead-acid batteries — used to power motor vehicles and cellphone towers, and for power storage at wind and solar farms — are one of the most recyclable products, but they are also highly toxic. Credit: baselactionnetwork, CC BY-ND 2.0.

Of all the recycling industries in the world, lead-acid battery recycling is one of the most profitable — and one of the most toxic. In the U.S., regulations on the industry have dramatically reduced lead exposure and pollution at battery recycling plants. But in Africa, where the industry is growing and largely unregulated, lead levels are skyrocketing. A new study in Environmental Research looking at environmental lead levels in seven African countries is shining a spotlight on the ongoing public health crisis.

Shale boom could fuel batteries

Thu, 06 Apr 2017 09:59:06 -0400

Water produced from oil and gas development in shale formations could provide lithium needed for batteries. Credit: Chris Boyer, Kestrel Aerial Services, Inc., CC BY-ND 2.0.

By Yael R. Glazer, Jamie J. Lee, F. Todd Davidson and Michael E. Webber

Racing to the future of automotive efficiency and performance

Fri, 26 Jun 2015 11:07:30 -0400

The 24-hour Le Mans race is part of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) race series, in which prototypes of the next generation of cars test the limits of speed, endurance and safety. Credit: ©Adrian Hoskins, CC BY 2.0.

“High-performance” and “environmentally friendly” are two phrases not commonly used together to describe race cars. But at the World Endurance Championship (WEC), it’s par for the course. These prototypes are the next generation of cars, testing the limits of speed, endurance and safety. And in just a few years, they may be coming to a lot near you.

Energy storage brings a renewable energy future one step closer

Wed, 04 Sep 2013 11:28:57 -0400

The 20-megawatt Gemasolar concentrated solar power plant in Spain uses a "power tower" and is capable of storing 15 hours of solar power. Copyright Markel Redondo, Greenpeace

Renewable energy sources promise to address many of the energy challenges facing society: They derive power from inexhaustible supplies of sunlight and wind and have the capability to meet a substantial portion of global electricity demands without adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. However, renewable power supplies must first overcome one inherent drawback: variability. Humans can’t control when the sun shines or how much the wind blows — nor can society adjust its daily rhythms to use energy only when nature provides it — and that’s a fundamental problem for utilities seeking to incorporate renewable power sources into the existing energy infrastructure.