Electrochemically storing energy: Principles, applications and prospects

Storing energy electrochemically in batteries is now a major socioeconomic issue. Progress is expected in mobile or static applications: on the one hand, portable electronics and automobiles; and on the other hand, the storage of renewables, which are, by nature, intermittent. The various chemicals used in the batteries now available are described as well as the materials and systems being developed in corporate and academic research laboratories. France has genuine qualifications in this field, since it has oriented R and D through the Network on the Electrochemical Storage of Energy (RS2E) so as to boost its position in this very competitive field