5 Ways the battery boom is quietly remaking the world

If electricity is the future, batteries will charge us towards it

When we think of batteries, our minds typically go to the devices they power in our daily lives—our phones, laptops, tablets and remote controls. But beneath the surface, a revolution is unfolding, fundamentally rewriting the rules of the power system and placing batteries at the linchpin of the energy transition.

According to a landmark report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), Batteries and Secure Energy Transitions, this shift has been dramatic and swift. The energy sector, which includes electric vehicles (EVs) and power grid storage, now accounts for over 90% of annual demand for lithium-ion batteries.

This shift represents a monumental increase from 2016, when the energy sector accounted for only 50% of a market that was ten times smaller.

IEA executive director Dr Fatih Birol states: “If electricity is the future, batteries will charge us towards it.” However, given their critical role, are we moving fast enough to build the resilient, diversified, and sustainable battery ecosystem our future depends on?

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