Lithium-Ion Cobalt (LiCoO2), Lithium-Ion Manganese (LIMn2O4) and Lithium-Ion Phosphate (LiFePO4).
As with any emerging technology, there are inherent obstacles to overcome with this regard. The two largest unknowns in lithium-ion are safety and price. With pricing forecasted to drop 38 percent per kWh by 2017 (IMS Research), lithium-ion becomes a more attractive storage option. High power density in a light-weight configuration makes this chemistry even more ideal for residential and light commercial applications.
Also, safety has become a very important variable with regards to lithium-ion. One reason for this is differences in battery management systems. With any lithium-ion battery pack, a Battery Management System (BMS) is required to regulate charging and discharging parameters. As the lithium-ion supply chain is fragmented, the BMS and cell manufacturers may not be the same company.
Differences in manufacturing as well as communication algorithms can lead to premature failure of battery packs and, in rare instances, cause fire. Also, using untested or low-quality chemistries can lead to premature failure as well.
Overall, lithium-ion makes great sense in the right application but more questions must be solved (safety and price) before this technology is made economically and commercially available on a large scale in renewable energy.
Lithium-Ion Technology Overview (2)
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Energy Storage eFeature | January 2015