Why efficient use of batteries is key to the clean energy transition

An efficient use of batteries will be key to the clean energy transition, argues Skoon Energy founder Peter Paul van Voorst tot Voorst.

But their successful deployment will depend on efficient recharging and the careful use of the raw materials that are required to make them, he argues.

In Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Skoon Energy rents out clean energy systems across Europe to construction sites, ports and more, cutting the need for diesel generators.

"Electricity is an incredibly interesting market to be in because it's moving so fast and the speed of the energy transition is almost forcing us, but also allowing us, to switch to local solutions, to decrease the dependence on fossil fuels, but also to decrease costs," he says.

"And the role of batteries is super important because decentralising means always starting at one source and then storage is key. So within growing whichever energy solution we deploy, whether it's including hydrogen, whether it's including solar, wind, the electricity grid, it always starts with a battery pack that provides the power output.

"So one of the most important challenges when working with batteries is they run out of energy. So you need a lot of data to ensure that you charge the battery on time and at the right speed. So that's a big role for our platform, is to make sure that they never run out.

"The second thing is the materials used in batteries are not necessarily the nicest materials we have and they are not mined on the right basis. So also using every gram of rare earth metal that we deploy efficiently is of the utmost importance."

In Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Skoon Energy rents out clean energy systems across Europe to construction sites, ports and more, cutting the need for diesel generators.