Lithium demand growth and new solid-state battery production

Benchmark Mineral Intelligence forecasts that lithium demand from stationary energy storage will slow to approximately 5% annual growth through 2030, following a period of rapid expansion exceeding 60% per year. The analysis suggests that electric vehicles will increasingly dominate the market, accounting for 76% of global lithium demand by 2050.

To meet projected 2050 demand of 7 million metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent, the industry may require the output of 134 new mines. This would necessitate over $100 billion in investment.

In battery technology developments, TotalEnergies-owned Saft has launched new production lines for solid-state batteries at its plant in Bordeaux, France. The facility is reportedly the first in France capable of producing batteries using both sulfide and polymer electrolytes at room temperature. Saft claims these batteries offer up to 50% higher energy density than standard lithium-ion versions and utilize a dry electrode process intended to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 40%.