Could Batteries Solve the Energy Crisis?

Batteries have never had a reputation of being environmentally friendly—but, that stigma may need to be rethought.

Remember when our environmental impact was going to be a huge problem for future generations? Those down-the-road days are gone. We’re coming up on an energy crisis, and a lot of us will be around to see it. By 2050 scientists project the world population to reach 10 billion paired with a subsequent doubling of energy needs.

In an interview with Linda Glaser for the Cornell Chronicle press, Héctor D. Abruña, Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Cornell University says, “We simply aren’t ready.” 57% of energy currently produced is wasted.

Abruña believes that battery technology may provide a partial solution. In contrast to fossil fuels and traditional cars and lighting, fuel and cell batteries convert energy directly into electricity at up to an 80% efficiency rate. And the technology creating better energy conversion and storage keeps developing.

The challenge, however, exists in the price, but, fortunately, progressive-minded universities and other scientific institutions are investing in renewable energy. Abruña believes the solution to cheaper, viable batteries lies in sulfur. Other breakthroughs in battery technology have made lithium-air designs the poster child for the future of batteries.

No matter what manufacturing avenue triumphs, Abruña summarizes the importance of a change. “You’re not going to solve the energy problem by separating paper and plastic. We need to transition out of our dependency on fossil fuels and into renewables. As a society, it is really up to us to change.”