Energy Storage

IDTechEx analyst Daniel Parr discusses the outlook for materials in EV batteries.

China and the EU are currently leading the way for second-life (2L) electric vehicle (EV) battery application, but a collaboration between AI infrastructure company Crusoe and battery recycler and repurposer Redwood hints at shifting tides, and a potential new global frontrunner emerging.

Direct lithium extraction (DLE) technologies will be critical in achieving fast, efficient, and sustainable lithium production in order to meet battery demand. This article highlights the different types of DLE technology, how they compare to each other, and which technologies are anticipated to see greater market uptake.

IDTechEx's new report "Batteries for Construction, Agriculture, & Mining Machines 2026-2036: Technologies, Players, Forecasts" provides a deep-dive into the fast-growing markets for electric machinery in the off-highway industries of construction, agriculture, and mining. This includes critical insights into battery requirements for the diverse range of machines, which technologies can meet these requirements, detailed supply chain analysis, and granular 10-year forecasts which outline the growth of off-highway battery demand to reach 45 GWh by 2036.

Higher rates of critical material recovery are crucial to insulating supply chains from the introduction of export controls on highly geographically localised primary mineral sources. In this article, IDTechEx presents the valuable lessons that can be learned from the success of the platinum group metals recovery market.

The increased uptake of hydrogen as a fuel will begin to increase the sustainability across a number of sectors. This article explores how the steel and transportation industries in particular are amongst those expected to benefit most significantly from the use of low-carbon hydrogen.

Lithium-ion cells are the fundamental technology underlying electrification in the automotive sector. The materials market for lithium-ion cells is broad and rapidly growing. This article explores cell material trends in EV batteries, and the material demand expected from commercialization of next-generation cell technologies.

Short-duration battery technologies such as Li-ion and valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA) batteries are typically used in data centers as part of uninterruptible power supply systems (UPS). Data center operators also sign power purchase agreements (PPAs) to secure long-term, stable renewable energy at fixed prices, shielding them from price volatility. However, key shifts in both the energy storage technologies adopted and the long-term methods for power procurement for data centers may evolve over time. This article from IDTechEx covers shifts in the technologies adopted and business strategies data center operators may embrace over the coming years.

The green energy market is increasingly drawing attention as sustainability motivations soar in line with regulation and environmental awareness. This article covers some of the companies exhibiting at JEC World 2026 in Paris, where IDTechEx spoke with multiple players within the composite market.