Introduction
A lithium-air battery is a novel technology that offers significant advantages in terms of energy storage in comparison with currently available options. However, in order for it to reach mass adoption, it is necessary to be compliant with laws and regulations. The current paper presents a policy brief expected to streamline the mainstream adoption of lithium-air batteries.
Nature and Magnitude of the Problem
The growing adoption of personal devices with high energy consumption levels has created the need for reliable high-capacity power sources. According to the latest estimates, energy consumption has been demonstrating an upward trend in the recent decade in all energy sources (Enerdata, 2018). However, it is important to note that the demand for electricity generated by renewable sources is especially prominent, which correlates with the decline in the use of combustible sources in developed countries (Enerdata, 2018). In some cases, these requirements can be satisfied with the energy supplied through the electric grid. However, the increasing demand for portability is prominent both on consumer and industrial levels. Thus, it is necessary to look into efficient and scalable ways of storing energy.
Affected Populations
Three population groups can be identified as affected by the issue. The first group includes the manufacturers of renewable energy equipment. The supply of energy generated by the current state technology is unpredictable, requiring storage that is both long-lasting and adjustable (Sutherland et al., 2017). From the theoretical standpoint, lithium-air batteries satisfy both criteria. The second group includes the manufacturers and users of electric-powered vehicles, which are known to be constrained by the energy density of power sources currently available on the market. The third group includes the manufacturers of various portable devices, limited by the large size of commercially available batteries.
Risk Factors
In the current state, lithium-air batteries are in the early stage of development, with a limited number of prototypes put forward by research teams. From a theoretical perspective, the technology is thought to be superior in safety, both in terms of resistance to humid environments and operability in a wider ambient temperature range (Imanishi & Yamamoto, 2014). However, it is important to understand that certain unidentified risks can be detected in the future, once specific applications are developed.
Economic and Social Consequences
The most apparent economic consequence of supporting the development of lithium-air batteries is the increased adoption of environmentally-friendly technology both nationally and globally. Currently, the biggest discouragement factor for using renewable energy sources is its operational inefficiencies, many of which are related to the lack of storage options. In the same manner, the current performance limitations are the main argument against using electric-powered vehicles by most consumers (Gallagher et al., 2014). Once these inefficiencies are addressed, it is reasonable to expect a surge in demand for clean, effective, and inexpensive energy sources that can be reliably stored on high-density batteries.
Priority Action Steps
The policymakers are recommended to promote the research of lithium-air batteries and their subsequent adoption by both consumers and industries. The proposed policy will utilize the following steps:
- Draft industrial and consumer standards of individual battery units and spare parts for vehicles and renewable energy solutions
- Evaluate the standards for compliance with internationally accepted standards and requirements
- Develop guidelines on storage, transportation, and consumer usage of batteries
- Identify and evaluate environmental hazards pertinent to the technology and develop guidelines for using used battery units.
Modify existing regulations in the renewable energy field to ensure the compatibility of new technology with existing legal frameworks
- Advantages: With these changes in place, it is possible to expect technology’s adoption on a broader scale. In the long term, this will result in the optimization of environmentally-friendly energy production techniques.
- Disadvantages: Modifying existing frameworks and the development of new standards and guidelines is an expensive process, which may discourage early entrants from adopting lithium-air batteries.
References
Enerdata. (2018). Global energy statistical yearbook 2017. Web.
Gallagher, K. G., Goebel, S., Greszler, T., Mathias, M., Oelerich, W., Eroglu, D., & Srinivasan, V. (2014). Quantifying the promise of lithium–air batteries for electric vehicles. Energy & Environmental Science, 7(5), 1555-1563.
Imanishi, N., & Yamamoto, O. (2014). Rechargeable lithium–air batteries: Characteristics and prospects. Materials Today, 17(1), 24-30.
Sutherland, W. J., Barnard, P., Broad, S., Clout, M., Connor, B., Côté, I. M.,… Fox, M. (2017). A 2017 horizon scan of emerging issues for global conservation and biological diversity. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 32(1), 31-40.