Modern Energy Infographic: Renewable Energy Sources

The Modern Energy Market

By 2025, the global market for renewable energy will reach $1.5 trillion

71% of Americans think clean energy should be a priority

The Sustainable Energy Economy

In 2019,
- Renewable energy powered the equivalent of 43.5 million homes in the U.S.
  - Solar power generated
    - 250,000 jobs
    - $18.7 billion in investments
  - Wind power generated
    - 120,000 jobs
    - $14 billion in investments
- Over 3 million alternative fuel vehicles were sold
  - Flex-fuel vehicles: 2.14 million sold
  - Electric vehicles: 1.2 million sold
50% of Americans would purchase renewable electricity if given the option
- 49% of consumers are willing to pay more — on average, $15 more per month
Why Choose Renewable Energy?
- 3 in 4 Americans want to reduce pollution
  - Water pollution: 75%
  - Air pollution: 74%
- 72% want to provide a better life for future generations
- More than half think sustainable energy is less harmful to people’s health
  - 62% think coal is harmful
  - 53% think nuclear is harmful
  - Just 5% think wind or solar is harmful
- 58% think renewable energy will improve the economy
- 38% think electricity from wind or solar is cheaper than coal
  - Nearly half think it will be by 2028

Providing renewable, reliable energy requires a better battery

Sustainable Energy Is Built On Batteries

Renewables Are Intermittent
- Solar energy is captured during daylight
- Wind energy is captured when it’s windy
- This power must be stored for when it’s needed
The End Of Net Metering?
- Today, most residential solar uses net metering to sell excess power to their utility company
  - But utility companies say this allows homeowners to use their infrastructure at no cost
- In 2019, 43 states considered changes to their residential solar regulations, including
  - Lower net metering rates
  - Higher infrastructure fees
- The result? As net metering is phased out, residential solar will become less financially viable — unless it’s replaced with power storage system
Batteries Fill The Gap
- Residential
  - Batteries store energy for evening use and backup power
  - Recharge using the electric grid at low-demand times
- Industrial
  - Batteries store power from wind and solar when production is high
  - Reduces power waste from production exceeding consumption
- Telecoms
  - Batteries provide backup power to increase data security
  - Power cell towers and data centers in remote locations
What’s Wrong With Lithium-Ion Batteries?
- Invented in 1912, modern Lithium-ion batteries aren’t much different from the original
  - Today, they fuel everything from electric vehicles to our smartphones
  - By 2022, Lithium-ion batteries are expected to fuel 61% of demand
- The Limits Of Lithium-Ion
  - Efficiency
    - Batteries degrade overtime and quickly lose storage capacity
    - Fully discharging the battery will shorten its usable lifespan
  - Production
    - Water-intensive process leaves nearby farms without irrigation
    - Mining scars landscapes and creates mountains of discarded salt
  - Safety
    - Extracting lithium can leach toxic chemicals into water supply
    - Batteries may explode or catch fire while in use or after disposal
  - Recycling
    - Variation in materials makes recycling difficult and costly
    - Improper disposal can lead to soil and water contamination

By 2025, more than 25% of all behind-the-meter solar systems include a battery — up from less than 5% in 2019

The Future Of Renewable Energy: Vanadium Flow Battery Storage

Lithium-ion batteries are ideal for mobile applications, but not for long duration, energy-intensive, stationary applications

Unlike lithium-ion batteries, vanadium flow batteries don’t degrade
- Fully charge and discharge throughout lifetime
- 25+ years of useful life, with annual maintenance
- Less vulnerable to variable temperatures
Water-based construction for safer alternative to lithium-ion batteries
- Non-flammable
- Non-explosive
A sustainable choice for batteries
- 100% of electrolyte is reusable in a new battery
- Recycled vanadium retains full functionality
- No need to continue mining fresh vanadium