The demand for delayed electricity to cover the intermittency of supply and demand, as well as to provide backup and smooth fierce inputs, has led to the development of various technologies, including supercapacitors, conventional batteries, and redox flow batteries (RFB). According to a recent analysis by Zhar Research, the RFB market is projected to reach $22 billion in sales by 2044. Interestingly, a majority of these sales will be for beyond-grid applications such as microgrids, industrial processes, and solar buildings capable of disconnection from the grid.
Hybrids of supercapacitors, conventional batteries, and RFB are not just curiosities, but are expected to outsell some of the core technologies from which they originated. Zhar Research’s latest analysis predicts that Battery Supercapacitor Hybrid (BSH) technology, starting with Lithium-ion Capacitors (LIC), will reach $10 billion in sales by 2044. The need for both power and speed, similar to the power and speed needed by a karate expert slicing a brick, has led to the adoption of LIC technology in applications such as unmanned mining, thermonuclear fusion power, and electromagnetic and electrodynamic weapons.
While supercapacitors may have a longer cycle life compared to LICs, industrialists argue that even the lower LIC cycle life of 50,000 is almost always longer than the equipment to which it is fitted. This makes LICs a reliable and safe fit-and-forget option for various applications, including the use of a 150kWh LIC in a large excavator vehicle by German company Kurt Energy and the use of LICs in rental e-bikes by Dutch company SURE. The research pipeline for BSH technology, particularly for 2023 and 2024, shows the potential for even better performance and lower costs with the use of different metals or materials such as metal organic frameworks (MOF), zeolite ionic frameworks (ZIF), and MXenes.
In addition to BSH technology, hybrid RFBs are also expected to outsell traditional RFBs. Zhar Research’s report, “Redox Flow Batteries: Market Forecasts, Roadmaps, Technologies, Manufacturers, Research Pipeline 2024-2044,” predicts that by 2044, 75% of the $22 billion RFB market will be served by non-vanadium versions, such as iron, HBr, or HMn-based chemistries. These hybrid RFBs have the potential to reduce size, weight, and cost by about 60%, without compromising performance or using valuable or toxic materials.
Both BSH and hybrid RFBs will mainly be used in electrical engineering applications, rather than in electronics applications. However, they are also expected to compete with each other in some cases, such as in applications such as zero-emission electricity generation and solar buildings. Companies such as Sustainable Energy Technologies Inc, Cougar Creek, and ESS are already offering BSH and hybrid RFB solutions for these applications, which are currently dominated by lithium-ion batteries.
The growing demand for BSH and hybrid RFB technologies presents a huge opportunity for device manufacturers and their value-added materials. Additionally, there is a smaller but higher profit opportunity in the tantalum capacitor-supercapacitor hybrid (CSH) market, which mainly serves the new forms of laser, radar, and military electronics. Findings from the latest Zhar Research report, “Supercapacitor, pseudocapacitor, CSH and BSH hybrid market forecasts in 30 lines, 95 manufacturers appraised, technology roadmaps, next successes 2024-2044,” indicate that there is also a significant opportunity for added value materials and devices in this market.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.