The market for wind power energy storage systems will reach $1.1 billion by 2015, according to analyst firm NanoMarkets. The analyst firm states in their report that growth in the wind industry will not be sustainable unless the matter of cost-effective energy storage is addressed.
The report notes that much of need for wind power storage at the present time is accounted for by lead-acid batteries, which represent low-cost and mature technology. However, the wind industry will quickly shift to newer higher performance battery technologies such as lead-carbon, sodium-sulfur and flow battery systems, according to NanoMarkets. Furthermore, the higher performance and lifetimes of lead-carbon batteries compared to traditional lead-acid batteries will give lead-carbon the largest single share of wind-power energy storage sales by 2015 with sales that will exceed $300 million in 2015. NanoMarkets also sees significant use of mechanical storage including pumped hydroelectric and compressed air storage.
The report notes that much of need for wind power storage at the present time is accounted for by lead-acid batteries, which represent low-cost and mature technology. However, the wind industry will quickly shift to newer higher performance battery technologies such as lead-carbon, sodium-sulfur and flow battery systems, according to NanoMarkets. Furthermore, the higher performance and lifetimes of lead-carbon batteries compared to traditional lead-acid batteries will give lead-carbon the largest single share of wind-power energy storage sales by 2015 with sales that will exceed $300 million in 2015. NanoMarkets also sees significant use of mechanical storage including pumped hydroelectric and compressed air storage.
