Since the publication of the second edition of our
E-Storage Updater, the global buzz in the energy storage sector
has been predominantly focused on opportunities in electric
vehicles (EVs) and the application of blockchain technology.
As public policy surrounding EVs starts to emerge, so too is
commercial activity increasing. Most recently Sony has moved into
the EV sector, joining Panasonic, LG Chem and BYD. Vehicle
manufactures are also increasingly turning to EVs; in the last
month Daimler has signed a supply agreement with North Star
Battery, and Volkswagen has put vehicle electrification at the
heart of its 2025 strategy.
As distributed energy and energy storage looks set to disrupt
the traditional utility business model, researchers globally are
considering how blockchain technology can revolutionise these
models. A new, fast and computer-automated way of undertaking
energy transactions, combined with high penetrations of distributed
generation and storage
