Figure 126: Forecast Copper in Emerging Energy Storage Markets (kt Cu)
Other bulk storage devices, and short term supply devices such as ultra-capacitors and high speed flywheels are also set to show a dramatic increase in market size in coming years.
The Impact on Copper
With the market role of alternative technologies not yet fixed, and differences in the amount of copper that may be required depending on product specification within each technology, copper forecasts for energy storage can at best be indicative. In the forecasts provided in Figure 126 we identify copper use associated with energy storage (including connections etc.) in the automotive and electricity infrastructure markets.
In total, we forecast copper use in emerging energy storage markets rising from 1 kt to 29 kt globally between 2010 and 2020. Europe is expected to account for around 6 kt of the total. By far the largest segment indentified is for Li-ion batteries in automotive applications (separately referred to in Section 2 of this Report).
In terms of fabricated product, the market will be dominated by products
used in li-ion batteries, mainly strip and other current carrying elements within the battery, external buss bars and copper foil on anode terminals. A similar array of products will be used with fuel cells. Ultra-capacitors and high speed flywheels will incorporate winding wire and energy cable in their associated systems.