Batteries are gaining traction in the clean electrification pathway to decarbonization. Their global manufacturing capacity was forecast to grow from two to seven terawatt-hours from 2023 to 2030,.
What is the energy consumption involved in industrial-scale manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries?
The energy consumption involved in industrial-scale manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries is a critical area of research. The substantial energy inputs, encompassing both power demand and energy consumption, are pivotal factors in establishing mass production facilities for battery manufacturing.
Dai et al (2019 ) estimate the energy use in battery manufacturing facilities in China with an annual manufacturing capacity of around 2 GWhc to 170 MJ (47 kWh per kWhc, of which 140 MJ is used in the form of steam and ) 30 MJ as electricity. Ellingsen et al (2015 ) studied electricity use in a manufacturing facility over 18 months.
Battery production has been ramping up quickly in the past few years to keep pace with increasing demand. In 2023, battery manufacturing reached 2.5 TWh, adding 780 GWh of capacity relative to 2022. The capacity added in 2023 was over 25% higher than in 2022.
Fourth, owing to large investments in battery production infrastructure, research and development, the resulting technology improvements and techno-economic effects promise a reduction in energy consumption per produced cell energy by two-thirds until 2040, compared with the present technology and know-how level.
How will energy consumption of battery cell production develop after 2030?
A comprehensive comparison of existing and future cell chemistries is currently lacking in the literature. Consequently, how energy consumption of battery cell production will develop, especially after 2030, but currently it is still unknown how this can be decreased by improving the cell chemistries and the production process.
This work is independent, reflects the views of the authors, and has not been commissioned by any business, government, or other institution. Global demand for batteries is increasing, driven largely by the imperative to reduce climate change through electrification of mobility and the broader energy transition.