Sam Jaffe: Global Market for Lithium-ion Batteries Will Double by 2020

TL;DR

Sam Jeffy provides insights on the future demand and supply of batteries, forecasting significant growth in the next decade, but warns of complexity in balancing supply and demand.

Transcript

I'm Priscilla beretta we'll be investing News Network and here with me today is Sam Jeffy managing director of Karen era Sam thank you so much for joining us today again thank you very much all right so we're hearing day one of the Catholics conference in California which started just after their Graphite's and a notes event what is your main takea... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍🏭 Balancing the future demand and supply of batteries is becoming more complex, with factors like lithium pricing and user expectations impacting the market.
• 🪡 Battery growth is expected to double in the next two years and experience significant growth in the next decade, driven by automotive and energy storage needs.
• 🤘 The implementation of lithium metal technology is believed to be challenging and costly, possibly taking over a decade to develop.
• 🤑 NMC cathode chemistry is expected to dominate the battery market, with the debate centered around the nickel-rich and cobalt-rich formulations.
• 📽️ Energy storage is projected to experience high growth, but it will take time for projects to be developed and operational.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the forecast for battery growth in the next two years and the next ten years?

According to Sam Jeffy, battery growth is expected to double in the next two years and experience a seven to eight-fold growth over the next ten years.

Q: What factors affect the balance of supply and demand for batteries?

Factors such as lithium pricing and battery user expectations impact the balance of supply and demand for batteries.

Q: When can the market expect to see significant change or mass implementation of lithium metal technology?

Sam Jeffy, managing director of Karen era, states that mass implementation of lithium metal technology may take a decade or more due to its complexity and cost.

Q: What cathode chemistry is expected to dominate the battery market?

NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt) is expected to dominate the battery market, with the debate revolving around whether nickel-rich or cobalt-rich formulations will prevail.

Q: What is the forecast for energy storage in the next ten years?

Energy storage is predicted to experience significant growth, reaching around 88 gigawatt hours in ten years, but it will take time for projects to be built and implemented.

Q: What is the current cost of lithium-ion batteries and what is the forecasted price decrease?

The current cost of lithium-ion batteries is approximately $180 per kilowatt hour, but it is expected to decrease below $100 per kilowatt hour in the future, driven by scale, supply chain maturity, and increased energy density.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The future demand for batteries and the supply of materials is becoming more complex, with factors such as lithium pricing and battery user expectations affecting the balance.

• The forecast for battery growth is significant, with an expected doubling in the next two years and a seven to eight-fold growth in the next ten years, driven by automotive and energy storage needs.

• The implementation of lithium metal technology is forecasted to be challenging and expensive, and it may take over a decade to develop and reduce costs.