The Power of Lithium Batteries: Revolutionizing Energy Storage

by Gennex Technologies | May 21, 2025 | General | 0 comments

Lithium batteries have become an integral part of our daily lives, powering everything from smartphones to electric vehicles and in renewable energy (solar) applications. Their high energy density, long lifespan, and fast charging capabilities make them an ideal choice for a wide range of applications.

How Lithium Batteries Work

Lithium batteries use lithium ions to store energy. They consist of a positive cathode, a negative anode, and an electrolyte that facilitates the flow of ions between the electrodes (cathode and anode) When a lithium battery is charged, lithium ions move from the cathode to the anode, storing energy. When the battery is discharged, the ions move back to the cathode, releasing energy.

Benefits of Lithium Batteries

High Energy Density: Lithium batteries have a high energy density, meaning they pack a lot of energy relative to their size and weight.
Long Lifespan: Lithium batteries can last for many years and charge/discharge cycles.
Fast Charging: Lithium batteries can charge quickly due to their high charging currents , making them suitable for applications where rapid charging is necessary.
Safety: Lithium batteries are safer to use compared to lead acid batteries because they have less tendency to cause explosions or fire outbreaks due to their inbuilt protective features.
Eco-friendly: Lithium batteries are not made of lead or hydrogen sulphate compounds which are harmful to humans when inhaled. Hence, they are friendly to the environment and humans.

Types of Lithium batteries:

There are about 5 different types of Lithium batteries but the two common ones are the Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO₄) and the Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) types.

LiFePO₄ vs Lithium Ion

LiFePO₄(Lithium Iron Phosphate) and Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries have distinct differences:

Chemistry: LiFePO₄ uses iron phosphate, while Li-ion typically uses cobalt, nickel, or manganese.
Safety: LiFePO₄is generally considered safer due to its more stable chemistry and lower risk of thermal runaway. Thermal runaway is a situation where a battery’s internal temperature increases exponentially, leading to a rapid and uncontrolled rise in temperature. This can cause a battery to overheat, catch fire, or even explode. This can be caused by overcharging, over temperature or factory defects.
Cycle Life: LiFePO₄ batteries tend to have longer cycle lives up to 6000 cycles.
Energy Density: Li-ion batteries typically have higher energy density, making them more compact.
Cost: LiFePO₄batteries are often more cost-effective in the long run due to their longer lifespan.

The SVC LiFePO₄battery

The SVC LiFePO₄ Lithium Battery is a cutting-edge energy storage solution designed to deliver unparalleled performance, safety, and sustainability. With its advanced Lithium Iron Phosphate chemistry, this battery offers exceptional longevity, high discharge rates, and eco-friendly operation, making it the ideal choice for a wide range of applications in renewable energy and energy storage systems. This top tier lithium battery has the following unique features:

Smart Battery Management System to optimize performance.
⁠Long lifespan of over 6000 cycles
⁠High charge and discharge rates
⁠Over 90% efficiency
⁠80% Depth of Discharge
⁠Inbuilt protection from over/under charge, over discharge, over/under voltage, over temperature, short circuit etc
⁠Can be paralleled up to 16 units
⁠User-friendly interface for easy monitoring and battery status check
RS485/CAN communication with several hybrid inverters such as Gennex inverters, Growatt inverters, LuxPower inverters, Sorotec inverters etc.
⁠Extended back up time.

How to calculate the backup time of the SVC lithium battery:

To calculate backup time:

Backup Time (hours) = (Battery Capacity (Wh) x Depth of Discharge (DOD) x Efficiency) / Load (W)

Where:

Battery Capacity (Wh): Total capacity of the battery in Watt-hours. Using the 15000Wh SVC battery model as an example
Depth of Discharge (DOD): Percentage of battery capacity that can be used (80% or 0.8 for SVC LiFePO₄ battery)
Efficiency: System efficiency. 96% or 0.96 for SVC Lithium battery.
Load (W): Total power consumption of devices being powered.

Example:

To calculate the backup time of the 15kWh SVC lithium battery using a load of 1500 Watts

Solution:

Capacity = 15000Wh or 15kWh

DOD = 80% or 0.8

Efficiency = 90% or 0.9

Load = 1500W

Backup time (hours) = 15,000(Wh) x 0.8 x 0.9/1500(W)

Backup time = 7.2 hours.

This calculation provides an estimate of how long your battery will last under specific conditions.

Applications of Lithium Batteries

Consumer Electronics: Lithium batteries are used in smartphones, laptops, tablets, and other portable devices.
Electric Vehicles: Lithium batteries are used in electric vehicles (EVs) to power the propulsion system.
Energy Storage Systems: Lithium batteries are used in energy storage systems and renewable energy solutions for homes, businesses, and grid-scale applications.