Analysis of demand for lithium for household energy storage

What is the basis for a lithium forecast?

The basis for the analysis are demand values for the individual areas of lithium applications from USGS starting in 2007. The calculated forecast values are represented in the following in a “Basic scenario” with demand and share of lithium by field of application (Table 1). Furthermore, an Optimistic and a Pessimistic scenario are shown (Table 2).

What drives the lithium market?

In this study the lithium market is analysed including areas of application, drivers of demand as well as lithium price development. A demand forecast up to 2020 is given in four different scenarios, including the increasing demand in electric mobility, forced by political driven influences.

Can lithium based cathode be used for energy storage?

Current research activities for lithium based cathode or anode materials , vary, but confirm the preferred use of lithium for energy storage in the future. Rising lithium demand requires an extensive knowledge of raw material situation as well as the current and future lithium supply and demand.

Is lithium demand increasing?

For batteries, there is no evidence of exponential growth in lithium demand from 2007–2015 (Fig. S1 Supporting Information). The growth considers the continuous increasing lithium demand in portable electronics in the last decade. In addition, the derived scenarios were determined without actual politically driven influences.

What is the lithium demand forecast for 2020?

A demand forecast for 2020 is created considering lithium substitutes in different applications. The underlying demand scenarios are primarily based on trend extrapolations for different areas of application (Fig. S1 Supporting Information) as well as the Information of Roskill's "Lithium - Market Outlook to 2017".

Why is lithium a high price in China?

In the period from 2002 to 2007, Chinese economy grew strongly, which results in higher demand of lithium and higher trade prices. After 2008, lithium demand dropped in immediate response to the economic crisis. Shortly after, the price reached its lowest point in 2010. The price recovered subsequently, to a level of 6,900 USD/t by the end of 2015.