The future of batteries for emerging economics - with the Faraday Institution

Discover how batteries will power our planet into the future.

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This lecture was filmed at the Ri on 14 May 2024, in collaboration with The Faraday Institution.

Between 750-800 million people globally lack access to a reliable source of electricity. One possible solution to enhance the reliability of energy supply and maximise power availability from low-carbon, renewable energy sources is the increased use of battery energy storage. In the latest public engagement event in partnership with Faraday Institution, we take a deep dive into the research, systems engineering, and logistical challenges (and their solutions) of accelerating the deployment of batteries in emerging economies for micro-mobility and static energy storage.

Professor Charlotte Watts, Chief Scientific Advisor at the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) outlines how batteries can play a pivotal role in emerging economies. From there, discover the current state of play of sodium-ion batteries with Emma Kendrick, Professor of Energy Materials at the University of Birmingham, and learn about the importance of diagnostics and systems engineering in extending the life of batteries with David Howey, Professor of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford. We are also delighted to welcome Okenwa Anayo Nas, Founder and CEO of Nayo Tropical Technologies, to provide an on-the-ground perspective of energy storage innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa.

00:00 Introduction with Charlotte Watts
08:50 Sodium-ion batteries for emerging economies – Emma Kendrick
27:17 Battery life diagnostics – David Howey
47:10 Nayo Tropical Technology in Nigeria - Okenwa Anayo Nas

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Professor Charlotte Watts is Chief Scientific Adviser and Director for Research and Evidence at the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). She is seconded from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, where she is Professor of Social and Mathematical Epidemiology. Charlotte is the most senior scientist in FCDO, with responsibility for providing scientific advice to the Foreign Secretary, Ministers, the Permanent Under-Secretary and Executive Committee, including during the COVID-19 pandemic and other emergencies. She heads the Research and Evidence Directorate, that brings together leadership of FCDO’s expert geopolitical and development advisors, FCDO’s significant research and technology development investments, and jointly oversees (with the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology) the UK’s overseas science and innovation diplomatic network.

Professor Emma Kendrick has worked in industry and academic extensively on energy materials and devices; batteries and fuel cells, and has 70 papers and 21 patent family applications in this field. Her recent book chapter on Advanced Battery manufacturing is being published by the RSC.

Professor David Howey received his MEng degree from Cambridge University (2002) and PhD degree from Imperial College London (2010) on the topic of heat transfer in electrical machines. He also worked as an engineering consultant between 2002 and 2005. In 2011, David moved to Oxford where he is now Professor of Engineering Science and Tutorial Fellow at St Hilda’s College.

Okenwa Anayo Nas is Founder and CEO of one of the top Nigerian solar firms, Nayo Tropical Technology Limited. Okenwa has deep experience in both the technical and financial realms of Renewable energy development, while managing a team of 43 full time employees. Okenwa holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Electrical and Electronics Engineering (Enugu State University of Science and technology). Nayo Tropical Technology (NTT) has been at the forefront of renewable energy technology development in Nigeria and Africa for the past two decades. NTT is a vertically integrated cleantech Company with core activities in Renewable energy Utilities, Product development and full EPC. In 2020, NTT commissioned the first interconnected mini-grid in Nigeria.

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