How do you increase the storage capacity of a lithium-ion battery?

To boost their storage capacity, all you have to do is build a bigger tank and add more vanadium. That’s a big advantage: By contrast, there’s no easy way to adjust the storage capacity of a lithium-ion battery — if you want more storage, you have to build a whole new battery.

Do you need a lithium-ion battery?

“If you think about utility-scale stationary applications, maybe you don’t need lithium-ion batteries. You can use another one that is cheaper and can provide the services that you want like, for example, vanadium flow batteries,” said Francisco Boshell, a researcher at the International Renewable Energy Agency.

Are lithium-ion batteries good for smartphones?

Lithium-ion batteries are perfect for smartphones because they’re lightweight and fit in small spaces, even if they don’t last long and have to be replaced frequently. Utilities have a different set of priorities: They need to store millions of times more energy, and they have much more room to work with.

Is a flow battery better than a lithium-ion battery?

A model of the flow battery system run by the Hokkaido Electric Power Network. But experts say there might be better options. Lithium-ion batteries are perfect for smartphones because they’re lightweight and fit in small spaces, even if they don’t last long and have to be replaced frequently.