Battery Technologies and Market Continue to Grow

With electric vehicles rapidly entering our lives globally, battery technology and markets have continued to grow exponentially over the past three years. As of the beginning of 2021, the global battery market exceeded USD 45 billion. By 2025, the market is expected to exceed USD 100 billion and installed capacity is projected to surpass 230 GW. TTT Global Group Board Chairman Dr. Akın Arslan, explaining that energy storage needs will grow exponentially over the next decade, stated: "From 2025 onwards, with the explosion of powerwall-type battery systems in homes and storage plants integrated into solar energy installations becoming widespread, the market is expected to grow exponentially within 10 years and exceed USD 500 billion by 2030," he said.

Tesla installed powerwalls in 135,000 homes in 2020

The growth rate seen in electric vehicle production over the past three years is materializing in a way that defies predictions. Even as these developments are in focus, Tesla—entering the automotive sector at full throttle with fully electric and autonomously-assisted vehicles and reaching a value in just 10 years greater than the combined value of the world's seven largest automotive brands—has entered yet another field. TTT Global Group Chairman Dr. Akın Arslan, noting that Tesla completed powerwall installations in 135,000 homes in 2020, continued his remarks as follows: "In the world's largest factory with 35 GWh capacity, built with a USD 5 billion investment in the middle of the Nevada desert in the United States, alongside automobile batteries, intelligent battery systems called 'powerwall' with storage capacity of 7.5-13.5 kWh for homes have begun to be produced. These systems, installed at approximately USD 10,000 including inverters and gateways, can provide uninterrupted heating, cooling and all electricity needs for a 300-350 m² villa with 6-7 active residents. Over the past two years, installations were completed in over 100,000 homes in the United States and over 35,000 homes in Australia. In 2021, installations are planned for 250,000 homes. Demand is also expected to grow exponentially year on year," he said.

Major battery plant investments catching attention in Europe

With growing environmental sensitivities, preference for electric vehicles in Europe has begun to increase. Emphasizing that battery system installation in homes is also becoming one of the preferred energy solutions, TTT Global Group Chairman Dr. Akın Arslan noted: "In this direction, battery plant investments in Europe gained significant momentum. Tesla is building the world's largest battery factory in Berlin. The factory's annual capacity is planned at 100 GWh and capacity can be increased to 250 GWh. German manufacturers, with Chinese, Korean and Japanese technology partners, are constructing five more gigafactories. Outside Germany, battery plant investments exceeding EUR 30 billion in total investment value in Hungary, Poland, Spain, Portugal, Slovakia, Norway, France and the Czech Republic are also drawing attention. Given that Europe had no lithium-ion battery cell factories before 2017, the strategic nature and direction of these investments becomes even more apparent," he said.  

Aspilsan is building Turkey's first lithium-ion battery cell factory in Kayseri

Aspilsan laid the foundation for Turkey's first lithium-ion battery factory investment in Kayseri at the end of 2020. TTT Global Group Chairman Dr. Akın Arslan, describing the investment as highly vital and strategic for Turkey, stated: "With this investment, which is extremely vital and strategic for Turkey, Aspilsan initially aims to produce 21.6 million battery cells per year. With additional investments to be made in coming years, the factory's production capacity could reach 5 GWh/year. The factory, which aims to begin production at its pilot facility in 2023, will operate in a 25,000 square meter enclosed area in the Mimarsinan Organized Industrial Zone in Kayseri. The factory will be a pioneer in the production and development of next-generation batteries and charging technologies. The factory will have the characteristic of being Turkey's and the region's first high-capacity battery cell factory. Indeed, for lithium-ion battery technologies, home energy storage will create an important market potential in the near future, no less so than electric vehicles," he said.  

Leading companies in energy storage and battery systems:

Tesla (USA), Panasonic (Japan), Siemens Energy (Germany), LG Chem (South Korea), VRB Energy (Canada), Fluence (USA), Total (France), Black & Veatch (USA), ABB (Switzerland), Eve Energy Co. Ltd. (China), GE Renewable Energy (France), Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd. (China), Hitachi ABB Power Grids (Switzerland), Samsung SDI (South Korea), Kokam (South Korea).