Global Battery Shifts: Tech, Cost, and the Search for Better Chemistry, Dr. Edward Rackley, CRU

Adam sits down with Dr. Edward Rackley, Head of Energy Storage at CRU, to explore the metrics, materials, and market forces shaping the future of grid-scale batteries.

Edward shares his path from chemical engineering and fuel cell research to leading CRU’s techno-economic analysis on global storage markets. He explains why battery innovation is entering a new era; one where performance, supply chain resilience, and lifecycle cost matter more than just dollars per kilowatt hour.

The conversation spans stacked containers, sodium-ion deployments, and the geopolitical tug-of-war over gigafactory dominance. Edward breaks down the industry’s shift from cost-reduction to performance optimisation, why Europe’s localisation push faces stiff competition, and how CRU models the tipping points that trigger real technology transitions.

From the chemistry of LFP and NMC to the practical limits of shipping 12MWh containers, this episode unpacks the realities behind energy storage scale-up – and what needs to happen next to move beyond lithium.

Adam and Edward cover:

• Techno-economic analysis and the shift from cost to performance optimisation
• Why LFP replaced NMC – and whether sodium, zinc, or flow batteries are next
• How CRU models battery lifetimes, cycling patterns, and levelised cost of storage
• Supply chain pressure points, from mineral refining to skilled labour shortages
• How global markets like Saudi Arabia and Morocco are reshaping storage dynamics

Useful Links

🔗 CRU Group: https://www.crugroup.com/

🔗 Connect with Edward on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-rackley/

🔗 Join Hypercube’s Beyond Energy Community for case studies, articles, podcasts, and events: https://wearehypercube.com/join-the-community/