As technology continues to evolve, it’s imperative to address the environmental impact of our electronic devices and their power sources (especially in our consumer-led world). Sustainable batteries offer an innovative solution — they not only reduce carbon emissions, but also enable the seamless integration of hardware and software to optimise energy consumption.
This integration of hardware and software facilitates the use of intelligent energy management systems. Through sophisticated software algorithms and real-time data analysis, these systems can optimise power usage, predict when batteries may begin to fail, and adapt to varying conditions. This synergy between hardware and software enhances energy efficiency, thereby reducing wastage and promoting a sustainable approach to resource consumption.
The possibilities presented by sustainable batteries are vast and promising.
The role of hardware and software
But what exactly is a sustainable battery? Well, rather than adopting a consumer mindset of ‘make it, use it and dispose of it’, a sustainable mindset sees batteries as assets that can be serviced, repaired and upgraded over time.
This starts at the very beginning. A ‘normal’ battery, for example, would be welded together with glues and adhesives. But companies like Aceleron have reimagined how batteries are assembled, creating a process that can fasten them together and — crucially — unfasten them, allowing upgrades and repairs to be carried out with ease.
The use of hardware and software can transform this manufacturing process and a battery’s management thereafter. This emerges from developing a system architecture that uses batteries in an asset management model. This is done through a software portal that allows engineers to monitor the status of a battery remotely, with interfaces designed for end users, installers, repairers and other involved parties.
These interfaces can show a whole range of sustainable metrics, including CO2 emissions, cost savings, solar energy generated and usage history, with the potential for increasingly detailed live performance analysis.
The (use) case for sustainable batteries
The current level of battery consumption needs to be, well, battered. The world chomps through batteries like chocolate, eating up their energy and then disposing of the wrapper. This is clearly unsustainable, especially when you consider that batteries now provide power on such a large scale, supplying the likes of houses, cars and hotels.
Batteries can be one of the most expensive components to manufacture and install. This is especially true with electric cars, one of the faces of a sustainable future — and it’s counterproductive to have a sustainable vehicle that is powered by an unsustainable battery. Redefining how we make, use and recycle batteries can avoid this scenario.
Their effectiveness is already being displayed on the shores of the Caribbean, with sustainable batteries — built by Aceleron — being used to power several boutique hotels. The weather conditions and power quality issues on the coastline mean hotels are likely to experience frequent outages. Through using batteries, these establishments can ensure that they can continue to operate 24/7, with solar panel charging further enhancing their green credentials.
What’s next for the industry? And how to overcome adoption hurdles
We’ve reached a point in the industry where we can start to build prediction models based on data we have gathered from previous work. This will give us the insight on how best to move forward and develop batteries most suited to what will happen in the future. Interfaces will continue to grow, becoming more advanced and offering more powerful capabilities for end users, installers and repairers.
To pave the way for a greener future, sustainable batteries need to be adopted on a mass scale and become the norm. For this to happen, we must foster industry-wide collaboration, creating an environment where sustainable battery producers work with non-sustainable battery users, rather than pit themselves against each other.
This should take the form of a community of industry leaders, users and producers who listen to each other, share ideas and work together towards a common goal. That way, we can begin to drive greater adoption and collaboration.
Uniting the battery world for a green future
From hotels to electric cars, sustainable batteries are already powering a greener world. This transition from a consumer-led to sustainable-led approach is down to uniting hardware and software, with asset management models allowing for real-time insight and energy optimisation of these batteries.
The industry is at a stage where exciting predictive possibilities and interface developments await. However, without building a collaborative environment throughout the battery sector, the potential impact of sustainable batteries will be hard to fulfil. Yet if this community emerges, a green future for the world beckons, and sustainable batteries will be the power behind it.
Dominic Bridgman, chief commercial officer at Amdaris
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