WEMO 2025 (complet) - Flipbook - Page 39
W E M O 202 5
O U T LO O K
Energy-speci昀椀c technology progress287,285,289
The following table summarizes the main
technologies progress and shows their
Technology Readiness Level (TRL)290. TRL varies
from stage 1 "Exploratory research transitioning
basic science into laboratory” to stage 9
"Wide-scale commercial deployment."
https://www.iea.org/reports/clean-energy-innovation/
innovation-needs-in-the-sustainable-development-scenario
288
https://www.weforum.org/
stories/2025/01/4-key-trends-to-watch-in-clean-energy-technology-in-2025/
289
https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/charts/
global-investment-in-clean-energy-and-fossil-fuels-2015-2024
290
https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/21712/chapter/14#290
291
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41377-024-01461-x
292
https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/01/15/1086482/
the-race-to-get-next-generation-solar-technology-on-the-market/
293
https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/3/90#:~:text=Recent%20
advancements%20focus%20on%20addressing,conductivity%20and%20
better%20interfacial%20stability.
294
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1385894724088855
295
https://www.grepow.com/blog/what-is-a-silicon-anode-lithium-ion-battery.
html#:~:text=Silicon%20anode%20lithium%2Dion%20batteries%20are%20
a%20type%20of%20rechargeable,over%20traditional%20lithium%2Dion%20
batteries.
296
https://www.hydrogennewsletter.com/
powering-the-future-latest-breakthroughs-in-pem-electrolyzers-for-greenhydrogen-in-2025/#:~:text=Market%20Growth%20and%20Capacity%20
Expansion,USD%209.12%20billion%20by%202034.
287
Key Details
Technology
TRL
Perovskite Solar Cells, 291, 292
4
Lithium-Ion Solid state
batteries,293,294
4-6
High energy densities (up to 400 Wh/kg) and improved safety. Challenges:
dendrite formation, scalability, and high manufacturing costs.
Lithium-Ion batteries with
silicon anode,295
7
High energy density abundant material, fast charging but stability, safety and
manufacturing issues. It requires standardized testing for TRL 9.
PEM Electrolyzers ,296
7
Commercial small-scale use, e昀케cient with renewables but high cost and
limited durability. Scaling to GW-level needed for TRL 8-9.
Solid Oxide Electrolyzers
(SOE) ,297
5
High e昀케ciency at high T° but material durability and cost issues.
Alkaline Water Electrolyzers
9
AWEs are a proven, cost-e昀昀ective technology. Challenges like gas crossover, slow response to
intermittent power, and carbonate formation in electrolytes require ongoing R&D
Hydrogen Storage (Solid
Form) , 298,299,300
3
Metal hydrides and chemical carriers at lab/prototype stage. Challenges:
scalability, high desorption temperatures, slow kinetics.
Carbon Capture
4-9
High Temperature superconductors,301
6-7
HTS cables have zero electrical resistance at liquid nitrogen temperatures (77 K) and
can carry 10 times more power for the same fotprint reducing transmission losses. Pilot projects by Nexans and AMSC, 299
Small Modular Reactors
6-8
See dedicated chapter
Advanced Modular Reactors
4-6
AMRs, designs include molten salt reactors (MSRs), high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs), and sodium-cooled fast
reactors (SFRs). Their promises are like SMRs.None has achieved commercial operation targeting deployment by the early 2030s
Nuclear Fusion
2-3
See dedicated chapter
E昀케ciency >26%, tandem cells ~34%. Challenges: stability, scalability, heavy metal toxicity.
Pilot production by Oxford PV and Saule Technologies.
Carbon Capture, varies in TRL. Post-combustion capture using amine-based solvents, is at TRL 9, with operational facilities.
Pre-combustion and oxy-fuel combustion capture systems are at TRL 7–8. Direct Air Capture is at TRL 4–6, with
pilot projects not yet commercially viable
WEMO 2025
The 昀椀rst part of this chapter covers speci昀椀c
energy related technologies, while the second
part will cover AI related improvements.
FIGURE 10
38
What technologies will
support the energy
transition?
