pvMB 1/22/19: DOE dreaming of a lithium battery recycling center, Ford’s EV F-150 and more

DOE to launch a research center on lithium battery recycling – The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced plans to develop a lithium recycling research center in order to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign sources for the material. To speed the development of new recycling methods, DOE is also launching a prize for lithium battery recycling, with awards of $5.5 million. The goal is to raise the lithium-based recycling rate to over 90%, from around 5% currently. Source – Reuters

34% of Americans plan on buying EV in the next 10 years – With the excitement around electric vehicles (EV) growing by the day, Car Gurus has released a report to put this all in perspective. Car Gurus conducted a survey at this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show and found 15 percent of respondents affirmed they would probably or definitely own an EV in the next 5 years, and 34 percent noting the same over the next 10. Consumers main concerns were over price, range, charging speed and overall performance. Source – Car Gurus

The time is right, new industries can take advantage of wind and solar generation – In an interview with Thomas Engelmann of AllianzGI, BloombergNEF has found that “flexible electricity demand” projects like water purification and hydrogen electrolysis could prosper alongside the growth of wind and solar generation. Engelmann was quoted as saying we “need to focus on projects that absorb the volatile supply of energy on the demand side.” Source – BloombergNEF

SolarReserve names Tom Georgis as CEO – SolarReserve has a new CEO, though not new to the company; Georgis has been with SolarReserve for 10 years as Senior Vice President. “I’m excited to be leading SolarReserve and commercializing our innovative technologies to the meet massively growing global demand for clean energy and long-duration energy storage solutions,” – Tom Georgis Source SolarReserve

An all-electric F-150 is in the works at Ford – Before we get started, let’s take a step back for perspective’s sake. The earliest we’ll see one of these bad boys will be in the 2020-21 timeframe, yet even that isn’t certain. However, this is exciting nonetheless. And this isn’t speculation, as Ford has confirmed the project to Car and Driver. Ford has shared that the electric F-150 is likely to share some components with the upcoming Mustang-inspired electric crossover, but with different engine and battery specifications for hauling and towing. Source – Car and Driver

JFK to get 10 MW solar – The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s petition has been answered as New York regulators approve a plan to add 10 MW in solar projects to John F Kennedy (JFK) International Airport. The Port Authority will be teaming up with the New York Power Authority to develop these projects, the largest of which will check in at 5 MW, and which will be constructed at the airport’s long-term parking space. Source – Airport Technology

#10YearChallenge for the world’s oldest grid connected lithium ion storage array:

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