Global battery markets with Iola Hughes (Head of Research @ Rho Motion)

The global battery energy storage market is undergoing rapid transformation. The decline in cell prices, fueled by fluctuations in lithium costs, has seen a surge in battery production, particularly in regions like China. However, the potential introduction of tariffs on U.S. manufacturers highlights the challenges of navigating the balance between global supply chains and domestic production.While lithium-based technologies continue to dominate, emerging alternatives such as sodium-ion and flow batteries offer distinct benefits and challenges. As the sector evolves, the question arises: What does the future costs and demand for battery energy storage look like?Iola Hughes, Head of Research at Rho Motion joins Ed Porter for today’s episode. Over the conversation, they discuss:The dramatic drop in cell prices and the concept of tiered battery quality and its impact on pricing.Manufacturing costs in China versus the U.S. and what impacts tariffs on U.S. battery imports and potential stakeholder strategies. The challenges facing European battery manufacturers with the recent news from Northvolt.Sodium-ion battery technology and its potential applications compared to LFP cells.An overview of global battery demand, with a focus on EV’s vs the growing stationary storage market.Mentioned in the episodeIron Air Storage with David Hill (Form Energy)Vanadium Flow Batteries with Matt Harper (Invinity Energy Systems)About our guestRho Motion aim to deliver a complete picture of battery demand, including motors and systems, charging and infrastructure, energy stationary storage, battery recycling and the wider energy and renewables markets. Providing research and consultancy services - they cover a global market. For more information on what Rho Motion do, head to their website. About Modo EnergyModo Energy provides forecasts, benchmarking, data, and insights for new energy assets - all in one place. Built for analysts, Modo helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage solutions understand the market - and make the most out of their assets.All of our podcasts are available to watch or listen to on the Modo Energy site. To keep up with all of our latest updates, research, analysis, videos, podcasts, data visualizations, live events, and more, follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter. Check out The Energy Academy, our video series of bite-sized chunks explaining how different battery energy storage systems work. For more information on the state of global battery markets, check out our written research.