Arnaud Castaignet at Web Summit Qatar 2024: "Beyond Lithium – Pioneering Sustainable Energy Storage for a Green Future"

At Web Summit Qatar 2024 in Doha, our VP Arnaud Castaignet presented "Beyond Lithium: Pioneering Sustainable Energy Storage for a Green Future." 

Arnaud shared the stage with many esteemed speakers including Trevor Noah, renowned comedian, political commentator and TV host; human rights activist and co-founder of the  Black Lives Matter movement Ayo Tometi as well as Sara Sabry, trailblazing astronaut and the first African and Arab woman to journey into space.

Here are some of the points Arnaud addressed in his session:


Limitations of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries have been an essential innovation over the past 30 years, widely used in devices and electric vehicles. However, they are not a complete solution for achieving net-zero goals. They face challenges, such as performance issues in extreme temperatures and reliance on critical materials like cobalt, manganese, and nickel. These materials have supply constraints and raise ethical concerns due to the conditions in which they are mined.

Need for Alternative Technologies
With the growing demand for energy storage and predicted shortages of critical materials by 2030, alternative technologies are essential. Exploring solutions like lithium iron phosphate batteries and supercapacitors can help reduce reliance on lithium and other scarce materials. These alternatives are important for diversifying energy storage options to meet different application needs.

Innovations at Skeleton Technologies
We specialize in high-power energy storage solutions. We develop and produce supercapacitors as well as SuperBatteries, a hybrid that combines the benefits of both supercapacitor and lithium-ion battery technologies. Our patented Curved Graphene material allows our products to operate efficiently without nickel or cobalt and enables us to provide high-power applications over longer durations, benefiting sectors from mining to grid infrastructure.

Industry-Wide Shift Towards Sustainable Materials
The push for sustainable energy storage is driving innovation across various industries. For example, the hydrogen sector is developing electrolyzers that don't require rare earths. Government strategies, such as the US Inflation Reduction Act, are investing in addressing critical material shortages and promoting sustainable alternatives. Such broad efforts signal the exciting developments ahead for the energy storage industry.

Catch the recording of Arnaud's talk to learn more.

Video courtesy of Web Summit Qatar.