Copper Is On The Rise With Chinese AIIB Infrastructure Development and Lower Dollar In Play.

Hedgehogtrader.

  Hedgehogtrader has made another brilliant trading call on the Copper price movement. With US Dollar sliding few last weeks from Double Top Reversal we can expect supply and demand picture to push Copper higher. Elon Musk's vision for Tesla Energy and Solar Power will require a lot of this "green metal".

Video - Elon Musk Presentation Of Tesla Lithium Energy Storage: PowerWall and PowerPack With "Infinite Scalability".

Commodities And AIIB: A World In Change Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Copper, Lithium And REE: SunPower And Apple Are Teaming Up To Build Solar Projects In China. 

  Apple is moving fast into Solar space now and brings attention to the rapid growth in Solar Power installations all around the world. China is particularly important market with its huge air pollution problem. This is where the clean electricity will come from to charge electric cars. With Tesla Gigafactory coming announcement for the home lithium battery to integrate solar installations, this huge segment of growth for the lithium technology will gain further traction. 

  As we have discussed before, Solar Power will be the catalyst for strategic green energy metals: Copper, Lithium and REE. Backed by Warren Buffet China's BYD is another contender to capitalise on the growth in utility storage. International Lithium strategic partner Ganfeng Lithium is taking its part in this growing sector as well with the investment in Boston Power and supplies Lithium materials to the major players in battery industry. 

International Lithium Corp. Commences Drilling at Avalonia Lithium Pegmatite Project, Ireland.

REE: Molycorp Jumps On Contract to Supply Rare Earths for Siemens Wind Turbine Generators.

 Molycorp will supply Shin-Etsu Chemical with REE, which will produce REE magnets for Siemens. Like in International Lithium case with Ganfeng Lithium - security of supply for strategic materials is taking the centre stage for advance of the green technology.

Copper's Bright New Age: Solar Electricity Utility Scale And Electric Cars.

"Investment growth in solar electricity is dramatic, and along with wind it will dominate the worldwide energy scene within a few decades. Copper demand will increase because of the growing use of solar electricity. Solar power is among the quickest to build, creates jobs, community benefits, new tax revenue for small towns. Air conditioning and peak energy demands align with when the sun is shining. The USA, China and Germany are aggressively adding solar power. Copper is either the only choice or the quality technology choice for solar parks due to its conductivity, durability, malleability and so on."

TNR Gold Receives Royalty From McEwen Mining On "One Of The Largest Undeveloped Copper Projects".

  Copper and Lithium become the strategic metals for the ongoing green revolution. Solar and Wind Energy and Electric Cars will drive the new demand for these metals. Solar Energy is growing very fast all over the world now. Energy Storage will be the next step to ignite this growth. This is the new focus of Elon Musk and his Gigafactory. He will introduce the home storage system based on the lithium batteries in the next few months. Copper will have its special place in this mass scale roll out of distributed energy generation systems with Wind and Solar Power. Integral part of this system - Energy Storage is getting popular now with Elon Musk Gigafactory and Warren Buffet with BYD making the headlines. These Trillion Dollar industries: Electric Cars and Energy Storage will drive the demand for Copper and Lithium in the future.

Commodities And AIIB: A World In Change Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

  Here comes the huge market with the rapidly rising middle class for the new economic growth. Infrastructure development will drive the next wave of economic stimulus. Strategic metals will be at the core of the supply chain for the next industrial revolution. Electric Cars, Solar and Wind Energy have already become strategic industries in China. Security of supply for strategic Energy Metals: Copper, Lithium and REE is the matter of state-level planning in that part of the world.

Commodities, US Dollar and FED: Steen Jakobsen: Get Ready For The Biggest Margin Call In History.

This warning comes from CIO of Saxo Bank. I found the situation with copper particularly interesting at this point of the economic cycle. If economy is so strong that all markets, apart from commodities, are hitting new ALL-Time-Highs - why Copper is still not participating in this party? It looks like Copper and other Green Metals becoming the win-win proposition now. If economy really has started to grow they will participate, additionally driven by green technology demand. If economy happen to be weak, another round of stimulus will come - this time from China. Infrastructure development will be the key for the future economic growth and demand for metals. Now China is driving it with AIIB and 1 Trillion in projects to spur growth!
  This year will be very interesting with US Dollar sliding below 97.00 last week, after 96.24 the Double Top Reversal will be confirmed and technical crowd will drive it lower pushing commodities higher. Is Oil already indicating this scenario? The money flow in Solar and Lithium Energy Storage from Apple, Google, BYD with Warren Buffett and Tesla will drive the new green metals super cycle.

Copper, Lithium And REE: SunPower And Apple Are Teaming Up To Build Solar Projects In China.

Apple is moving fast into Solar space now and brings attention to the rapid growth in Solar Power installations all around the world. China is particularly important market with its huge air pollution problem. This is where the clean electricity will come from to charge electric cars. With Tesla Gigafactory coming announcement for the home lithium battery to integrate solar installations, this huge segment of growth for the lithium technology will gain further traction. 

  As we have discussed before, Solar Power will be the catalyst for strategic green energy metals: Copper, Lithium and REE. Backed by Warren Buffet China's BYD is another contender to capitalise on the growth in utility storage. International Lithium strategic partner Ganfeng Lithium is taking its part in this growing sector as well with the investment in Boston Power and supplies Lithium materials to the major players in battery industry. 

International Lithium Corp. Commences Drilling at Avalonia Lithium Pegmatite Project, Ireland.

REE: Molycorp Jumps On Contract to Supply Rare Earths for Siemens Wind Turbine Generators.

 Molycorp will supply Shin-Etsu Chemical with REE, which will produce REE magnets for Siemens. Like in International Lithium case with Ganfeng Lithium - security of supply for strategic materials is taking the centre stage for advance of the green technology.

Copper's Bright New Age: Solar Electricity Utility Scale And Electric Cars.

"Investment growth in solar electricity is dramatic, and along with wind it will dominate the worldwide energy scene within a few decades. Copper demand will increase because of the growing use of solar electricity. Solar power is among the quickest to build, creates jobs, community benefits, new tax revenue for small towns. Air conditioning and peak energy demands align with when the sun is shining. The USA, China and Germany are aggressively adding solar power. Copper is either the only choice or the quality technology choice for solar parks due to its conductivity, durability, malleability and so on."

TNR Gold Receives Royalty From McEwen Mining On "One Of The Largest Undeveloped Copper Projects".

  Copper and Lithium become the strategic metals for the ongoing green revolution. Solar and Wind Energy and Electric Cars will drive the new demand for these metals. Solar Energy is growing very fast all over the world now. Energy Storage will be the next step to ignite this growth. This is the new focus of Elon Musk and his Gigafactory. He will introduce the home storage system based on the lithium batteries in the next few months. Copper will have its special place in this mass scale roll out of distributed energy generation systems with Wind and Solar Power. Integral part of this system - Energy Storage is getting popular now with Elon Musk Gigafactory and Warren Buffet with BYD making the headlines. These Trillion Dollar industries: Electric Cars and Energy Storage will drive the demand for Copper and Lithium in the future.

Commodities, US Dollar and FED: Steen Jakobsen: Get Ready For The Biggest Margin Call In History.

  This warning comes from CIO of Saxo Bank. I found the situation with copper particularly interesting at this point of the economic cycle. If economy is so strong that all markets, apart from commodities, are hitting new ALL-Time-Highs - why Copper is still not participating in this party? It looks like Copper and other Green Metals becoming the win-win proposition now. If economy really has started to grow they will participate, additionally driven by green technology demand. If economy happens to be weak, another round of stimulus will come - this time from China. Infrastructure development will be the key for the future economic growth and demand for metals. Now China is driving it with AIIB and 1 Trillion in projects to spur growth!
  This year will be very interesting with US Dollar sliding below 97.00 last week, after 96.24 the Double Top Reversal will be confirmed and technical crowd will drive it lower pushing commodities higher. Is Oil already indicating this scenario? The money flow in Solar and Lithium Energy Storage from Apple, Google, BYD with Warren Buffett and Tesla will drive the new green metals super cycle.

Copper, Lithium And REE: SunPower And Apple Are Teaming Up To Build Solar Projects In China.

Apple is moving fast into Solar space now and brings attention to the rapid growth in Solar Power installations all around the world. China is particularly important market with its huge air pollution problem. This is where the clean electricity will come from to charge electric cars. With Tesla Gigafactory coming announcement for the home lithium battery to integrate solar installations, this huge segment of growth for the lithium technology will gain further traction. 

  As we have discussed before, Solar Power will be the catalyst for strategic green energy metals: Copper, Lithium and REE. Backed by Warren Buffet China's BYD is another contender to capitalise on the growth in utility storage. International Lithium strategic partner Ganfeng Lithium is taking its part in this growing sector as well with the investment in Boston Power and supplies Lithium materials to the major players in battery industry. 

International Lithium Corp. Commences Drilling at Avalonia Lithium Pegmatite Project, Ireland.

REE: Molycorp Jumps On Contract to Supply Rare Earths for Siemens Wind Turbine Generators.

 Molycorp will supply Shin-Etsu Chemical with REE, which will produce REE magnets for Siemens. Like in International Lithium case with Ganfeng Lithium - security of supply for strategic materials is taking the centre stage for advance of the green technology.

Copper's Bright New Age: Solar Electricity Utility Scale And Electric Cars.

"Investment growth in solar electricity is dramatic, and along with wind it will dominate the worldwide energy scene within a few decades. Copper demand will increase because of the growing use of solar electricity. Solar power is among the quickest to build, creates jobs, community benefits, new tax revenue for small towns. Air conditioning and peak energy demands align with when the sun is shining. The USA, China and Germany are aggressively adding solar power. Copper is either the only choice or the quality technology choice for solar parks due to its conductivity, durability, malleability and so on."

TNR Gold Receives Royalty From McEwen Mining On "One Of The Largest Undeveloped Copper Projects".

  Copper and Lithium become the strategic metals for the ongoing green revolution. Solar and Wind Energy and Electric Cars will drive the new demand for these metals. Solar Energy is growing very fast all over the world now. Energy Storage will be the next step to ignite this growth. This is the new focus of Elon Musk and his Gigafactory. He will introduce the home storage system based on the lithium batteries in the next few months. Copper will have its special place in this mass scale roll out of distributed energy generation systems with Wind and Solar Power. Integral part of this system - Energy Storage is getting popular now with Elon Musk Gigafactory and Warren Buffet with BYD making the headlines. These Trillion Dollar industries: Electric Cars and Energy Storage will drive the demand for Copper and Lithium in the future.

Copper Surges As Freeport Halts Grasberg Mine - The Looming Supply Gap Comes Sooner.

 "Copper is in the very tight supply now and price is surging for the second day. This example just shows that resource nationalism is not going away. Security and diversity of supply will be the key. When Dr Copper will buy into the recovery story? Nobody knows it, but I doubt that FED can start any meaningful rate hikes before Copper will go back above $3.0 mark. FED is not driven by commodity prices, but there is no real growth before commodities will turn up again. Copper takes the particular place now as electrification of our transportation and introducing Solar Power on the mass scale will be driving the demand in years to come. Industry insiders will be our guide as usual here. Just follow the smart money, as this supply gap can be coming much sooner now. Read more."

Backed By Warren Buffett China's BYD Takes Aim At Elon Musk's Tesla Gigafactory In Battery Race.

  "Our industry is getting hotter by the day. After Apple Electric iCar rumours running wild and getting more and more confirmation, we have Warren Buffett stepping into the Lithium Battery Race. Now we have Tesla with its Gigafactory, LG Chem with its Megafactory in China and Boston Power with stake holding by or strategic partner Ganfeng Lithium in Lithium Battery Race. BYD with Warren Buffett backing is making this investment landscape even more exciting. As Elon Musk has said: "All transportation, apart from rockets, will be electric" Read more."

Copper, Lithium And REE: SunPower And Apple Are Teaming Up To Build Solar Projects In China.

  Apple is moving fast into Solar space now and brings attention to the rapid growth in Solar Power installations all around the world. China is particularly important market with its huge air pollution problem. This is where the clean electricity will come from to charge electric cars. With Tesla Gigafactory coming announcement for the home lithium battery to integrate solar installations, this huge segment of growth for the lithium technology will gain further traction. 

  As we have discussed before, Solar Power will be the catalyst for strategic green energy metals: Copper, Lithium and REE. Backed by Warren Buffet China's BYD is another contender to capitalise on the growth in utility storage. International Lithium strategic partner Ganfeng Lithium is taking its part in this growing sector as well with the investment in Boston Power and supplies Lithium materials to the major players in battery industry. 

International Lithium Corp. Commences Drilling at Avalonia Lithium Pegmatite Project, Ireland.

REE: Molycorp Jumps On Contract to Supply Rare Earths for Siemens Wind Turbine Generators.

 Molycorp will supply Shin-Etsu Chemical with REE, which will produce REE magnets for Siemens. Like in International Lithium case with Ganfeng Lithium - security of supply for strategic materials is taking the centre stage for advance of the green technology.

Copper's Bright New Age: Solar Electricity Utility Scale And Electric Cars.

"Investment growth in solar electricity is dramatic, and along with wind it will dominate the worldwide energy scene within a few decades. Copper demand will increase because of the growing use of solar electricity. Solar power is among the quickest to build, creates jobs, community benefits, new tax revenue for small towns. Air conditioning and peak energy demands align with when the sun is shining. The USA, China and Germany are aggressively adding solar power. Copper is either the only choice or the quality technology choice for solar parks due to its conductivity, durability, malleability and so on."

TNR Gold Receives Royalty From McEwen Mining On "One Of The Largest Undeveloped Copper Projects".

  Copper and Lithium become the strategic metals for the ongoing green revolution. Solar and Wind Energy and Electric Cars will drive the new demand for these metals. Solar Energy is growing very fast all over the world now. Energy Storage will be the next step to ignite this growth. This is the new focus of Elon Musk and his Gigafactory. He will introduce the home storage system based on the lithium batteries in the next few months. Copper will have its special place in this mass scale roll out of distributed energy generation systems with Wind and Solar Power. Integral part of this system - Energy Storage is getting popular now with Elon Musk Gigafactory and Warren Buffet with BYD making the headlines. These Trillion Dollar industries: Electric Cars and Energy Storage will drive the demand for Copper and Lithium in the future.

Copper Surges As Freeport Halts Grasberg Mine - The Looming Supply Gap Comes Sooner.

 "Copper is in the very tight supply now and price is surging for the second day. This example just shows that resource nationalism is not going away. Security and diversity of supply will be the key. When Dr Copper will buy into the recovery story? Nobody knows it, but I doubt that FED can start any meaningful rate hikes before Copper will go back above $3.0 mark. FED is not driven by commodity prices, but there is no real growth before commodities will turn up again. Copper takes the particular place now as electrification of our transportation and introducing Solar Power on the mass scale will be driving the demand in years to come. Industry insiders will be our guide as usual here. Just follow the smart money, as this supply gap can be coming much sooner now. Read more."

Backed By Warren Buffett China's BYD Takes Aim At Elon Musk's Tesla Gigafactory In Battery Race.

  "Our industry is getting hotter by the day. After Apple Electric iCar rumours running wild and getting more and more confirmation, we have Warren Buffett stepping into the Lithium Battery Race. Now we have Tesla with its Gigafactory, LG Chem with its Megafactory in China and Boston Power with stake holding by or strategic partner Ganfeng Lithium in Lithium Battery Race. BYD with Warren Buffett backing is making this investment landscape even more exciting. As Elon Musk has said: "All transportation, apart from rockets, will be electric" Read more."

REE: Molycorp Jumps On Contract to Supply Rare Earths for Siemens Wind Turbine Generators.

  

  Molycorp will supply Shin-Etsu Chemical with REE, which will produce REE magnets for Siemens. Like in International Lithium case with Ganfeng Lithium - security of supply for strategic materials is taking the centre stage for advance of the green technology.

Magnet Rare Earths Prices Moving Higher on Increased Demand.

  With the growth in Mobile Devices, Electric Cars, Solar and Wind Energy REE sector will be coming back into the spotlight this year.

TNR Gold Acquires Critical Element REE Project in Labrador.

2014 Report On the International Rare Earth Metals Market - Forecast to 2018

  At TNR Gold we are involved not only in Lithium with our stake in International Lithium, but also in REE projects development. We are following closely the changing landscape and identifying new opportunities in this very important market of Strategic Critical Materials. Their applications are spread from Electric Motors to Solar and Wind Power generation and to the Displays of your Mobile Devices.

Molycorp Chosen to Supply Rare Earths for Use in High-Efficiency Siemens Wind Turbine Generators

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo., April 15, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Siemens AG ("Siemens") has selected Molycorp, Inc. (NYSE:MCP) ("Molycorp") to supply rare earth materials over the next 10 years from its Mountain Pass, California facility for incorporation into Siemens' high-efficiency, direct drive wind turbine generators. Molycorp will supply rare earth materials to Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. ("Shin-Etsu"), which will produce the rare earth magnets Siemens intends to utilize in its wind turbines.

Siemens officials noted that key factors in choosing Molycorp were Molycorp's ability to provide greater global diversification and reliability to its supply chain, as well as the environmental and process innovations Molycorp has built into its Mountain Pass rare earth facility. Among those innovations are the facility's ability to recycle water, regenerate the chemical reagents needed in rare earth production, generate power from a high-efficiency natural gas cogeneration power plant, and dispose of mine tailings through an innovative paste tailings system.

Siemens officials said that the magnets to be used in its direct drive wind turbines will contain reduced levels of heavy rare earth elements (HREEs), such as dysprosium. In collaboration with Siemens Wind Power, Molycorp and Shin-Etsu will improve the magnet material to reach zero HREEs, Siemens said. At the same time, Siemens added, supply chain reliability will be increased and costs will be reduced.

"The contract with Shin-Etsu and Molycorp is an important step for us in sourcing magnet materials for our direct drive wind turbines," said Morten Rasmussen, Head of Technology at Siemens Wind Power and Renewables Division. "We strive for diversification in the sourcing of these components to improve independency from specific markets."

"We are very pleased to have been selected to supply Siemens and Shin-Etsu with rare earth magnetic materials for this important clean energy supply chain project," said Geoff Bedford, Molycorp's President and Chief Executive Officer. "This agreement underscores Molycorp's commitment to partner with our customers to support their product development efforts and serve as an integrated, long-term provider of reliable rare earth supply."

More information on Siemens' direct drive wind turbines can be seen here:

• Siemens' D3 Platform: http://www.energy.siemens.com/hq/en/renewable-energy/wind-power/platforms/d3-platform/
• Siemens' D7 Platform: http://www.energy.siemens.com/hq/en/renewable-energy/wind-power/platforms/d7-platform/
• 
  

ABOUT MOLYCORP

Molycorp is the only advanced material manufacturer in the world that both controls a world-class rare earth resource and can produce high-purity, custom engineered rare earth products to meet increasingly demanding customer specifications. With production facilities on three continents, the Company produces a wide variety of specialized products from rare earth elements and five rare metals (Gallium, Indium, Rhenium, Tantalum and Niobium). The Company produces rare earth magnetic materials through its Molycorp Magnequench subsidiary, including neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnet powders, used to manufacture bonded NdFeB permanent rare earth magnets. The Company also markets and sells a line of rare earth-based water treatment products. For more information please visit http://www.molycorp.com."

Magnet Rare Earths Prices Moving Higher on Increased Demand.

With the growth in Mobile Devices, Electric Cars, Solar and Wind Energy REE sector will be coming back into the spotlight this year.

Rare Earth Elements: Simple Commodity Or Strategic Vulnerability?

"Rare earths are a group of 17 elements with unique chemical, magnetic and luminescent properties crucial for the functioning of much of today’s high technology equipment, including MRIs, lap-top computers, hybrid vehicles and LEDs. They also have important applications in the defence industry. China is the dominant supplier of rare earth elements (REEs), meeting at least 85% of global demand. In 2010, REEs were splashed across the front pages of newspapers when it significantly reduced rare earth export quotas and temporarily suspended their shipment to Japan. Consumers quickly recognised that diversity of reliable supply is just as important as price and quality, and there is a concerted effort to replace, reduce and recycle REEs. So are REEs best understood as simple commodities, or as strategic resources that can be used as tools of statecraft? And can Australia play a part in the development of alternative reliable sources of rare earths? To help understand the strategic importance of REEs the National Security College and Crawford School of Public Policy welcome two global experts in the field."

TNR Gold Acquires Critical Element REE Project in Labrador.

2014 Report On the International Rare Earth Metals Market - Forecast to 2018

  At TNR Gold we are involved not only in Lithium with our stake in International Lithium, but also in REE projects development. We are following closely the changing landscape and identifying new opportunities in this very important market of Strategic Critical Materials. Their applications are spread from Electric Motors to Solar and Wind Power generation and to the Displays of your Mobile Devices.

REE: Apple Investing $850 Million In California Solar Farm.

  Here comes another catalyst for Solar, which will bring more demand for REE and Silver. With its pile of cash and power of the brand Apple can easily distract transportation and energy industries. Will we ever see the Apple Electric iCar - Steve Jobs has dreamt about? We have a lot of rumours going on about it this week. It is very reassuring that Tim Cook has proclaimed: "We know at Apple that climate change is real!" 

"Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook said on Tuesday the technology company is investing $850 million to build a solar farm in California with solar panel maker First Solar. Cook said at a Goldman Sachs technology conference in San Francisco that the project in Monterey County, California will provide enough energy for 60,000 homes as well as Apple's head office in nearby Cupertino. Cook said, "We know in Apple that climate change is real. The time for talk is passed. The time for action is now." First Solar, based in Tempe, Arizona, manufactures solar panels and also builds solar power plants, many of which it sells to power producers."

Rare Earth Elements: Simple Commodity Or Strategic Vulnerability?

"Rare earths are a group of 17 elements with unique chemical, magnetic and luminescent
properties crucial for the functioning of much of today’s high technology equipment,
including MRIs, lap-top computers, hybrid vehicles and LEDs. They also have important
applications in the defence industry.
China is the dominant supplier of rare earth elements (REEs), meeting at least 85% of
global demand. In 2010, REEs were splashed across the front pages of newspapers when
it significantly reduced rare earth export quotas and temporarily suspended their shipment
to Japan. Consumers quickly recognised that diversity of reliable supply is just as
important as price and quality, and there is a concerted effort to replace, reduce and
recycle REEs.
So are REEs best understood as simple commodities, or as strategic resources that can be
used as tools of statecraft? And can Australia play a part in the development of alternative
reliable sources of rare earths? To help understand the strategic importance of REEs the
National Security College and Crawford School of Public Policy welcome two global experts
in the field."

TNR Gold Acquires Critical Element REE Project in Labrador.

2014 Report On the International Rare Earth Metals Market - Forecast to 2018

  At TNR Gold we are involved not only in Lithium with our stake in International Lithium, but also in REE projects development. We are following closely the changing landscape and identifying new opportunities in this very important market of Strategic Critical Materials. Their applications are spread from Electric Motors to Solar and Wind Power generation and to the Displays of your Mobile Devices.

Rare Earth Elements: Simple Commodity Or Strategic Vulnerability?

"Rare earths are a group of 17 elements with unique chemical, magnetic and luminescent
properties crucial for the functioning of much of today’s high technology equipment,
including MRIs, lap-top computers, hybrid vehicles and LEDs. They also have important
applications in the defence industry.
China is the dominant supplier of rare earth elements (REEs), meeting at least 85% of
global demand. In 2010, REEs were splashed across the front pages of newspapers when
it significantly reduced rare earth export quotas and temporarily suspended their shipment
to Japan. Consumers quickly recognised that diversity of reliable supply is just as
important as price and quality, and there is a concerted effort to replace, reduce and
recycle REEs.
So are REEs best understood as simple commodities, or as strategic resources that can be
used as tools of statecraft? And can Australia play a part in the development of alternative
reliable sources of rare earths? To help understand the strategic importance of REEs the
National Security College and Crawford School of Public Policy welcome two global experts
in the field."

TNR Gold Acquires Critical Element REE Project in Labrador.

2014 Report On the International Rare Earth Metals Market - Forecast to 2018

  At TNR Gold we are involved not only in Lithium with our stake in International Lithium, but also in REE projects development. We are following closely the changing landscape and identifying new opportunities in this very important market of Strategic Critical Materials. Their applications are spread from Electric Motors to Solar and Wind Power generation and to the Displays of your Mobile Devices.

World’s Largest Lithium-ion Battery To Be Built In Southern California.

  

  Solar and Wind power are growing very fast now and lithium battery-based energy storage facilities will provide the next step for the integration of this power sources into the smart grid. Elon Musk with Tesla Gigafactory is in the picture again here as well.

Lithium Batteries Gigafactory: Why Morgan Stanley Is Betting That Tesla Will Kill Your Power Company

  

  Morgan Stanley is very vocal about the coming disruption to trillion dollar industries. Cheaper lithium batteries will enable not only mass market for electric cars, but the distributed power generation. Wind and solar power can be used with the existing grid. Every household potentially becomes the power plant and you can use this power for your own electric car. 

  China is the leading wind and solar power generation country in the world now and moving fast to secure the supply for strategic commodities for this green economy: Lithium and REE. Read more."

Elon Musk With Tesla Gigafactory Starts The Race To Secure Supply Of Lithium Batteries And Lithium.

ExtreameTech:

World's largest lithium-ion battery to be built in Southern California, dwarfs previous installations 

Battery power developer AES Southland has announced a contract with Southern California Edison to deliver a 400MW lithium ion battery-based energy storage facility that will be capable of providing 100MW of power for a total of four hours. For comparison, when the State Grid Corporation of China teamed up with electric car manufacturer BYD to build the largest battery in the world, the stated capacity was 36MWh — less than 1/10 the size of the SCE facility.

That gap is so large it seems ridiculous, yet all available data points to this new facility as one of the largest, if not thelargest lithium-ion battery storage facilities in the entire world.

For all that, the new plant is just a fraction of the total generative capability that SCE selected from the proposed solutions. AES will also provide a 1284MW worth of cycle-gas fired generation capability, with other solutions contributing roughly 600MW. Total capacity to be built out is 1,892MW across 63 contracts. Of that amount, only 44MW is classified as renewable according to SCE’s own website.

The real significance of the AES announcement is that this battery is apparently being bought to replace older gas peaker plants. Typically, older gas plants are repurposed to provide peak power generation (hence the “peaker” nickname). Because these plants are only operated occasionally, they have extremely high costs and take time to spin up. Oftentimes these are older, less efficient plants as well — all of which contributes to the high cost of peak power. SCE isn’t abandoning peak power generative capacity, but only 98MW of the 1,891MW total will be peaker plants.

The idea behind using a 100MW battery as a buffer is that it can offset the need for expensive peak power generation. 400MW isn’t really large enough to feed an area the size of SCE’s distribution grid, but it is sufficient to buffer conventional supplies at peak load and reduce operating costs.

Battery sizes set to boom

This installation isn’t set to come online until 2021, but all indications are that this will be one of the largest lithium-ion installations in North America. Given that 30-40MW projects were hailed as the largest in the world as recently as two years ago, while the largest battery installation in the world was capable of providing 40MW for just seven minutes back in the early 2000s, it’s clear that we’re about to see an explosion in total battery capacity. Hybrid energy grids are also becoming common.

What’s less clear is whether or not lithium-ion batteries are the right tool to drag ourselves away from dependence on coal, gas, and oil. While they’re currently a “best we’ve got” solution, the fact is, the energy density and specific energy of lithium-ion batteries is terrible in comparison to almost everything.

Lithium-ion is in the far lower-left-hand corner.

There’s definitely a market for lithium-ion as a partial replacement for peaker plants, but theeconomics of using it in conjunction with wind and solar power are dubious at large scale. SCE’s own bid makes this point — while the order pulls together a variety of energy sources to achieve its goals, the overwhelming majority of the power is created using natural gas. Solar power and battery reserves are a fraction of the total energy. ExtremeTech."