Noun explanation

Aging models are mathematical or physical models used to describe and predict the gradual decline of battery performance over time or during use. Batteries will experience capacity decline, internal resistance increase, power decline, etc. during long-term use. These changes are collectively referred to as “aging”. Aging models help researchers and engineers evaluate the service life and reliability of batteries by simulating these changes. Aging models are mainly divided into three categories: Empirical Models : Based on a large amount of experimental data, the battery degradation trend is obtained through fitting, which is suitable for life prediction under specific conditions.

Mechanistic or Physics-Based Models : Based on the physical and chemical reaction mechanisms inside the battery, such as electrode material degradation, electrolyte decomposition, etc., they have high explainability.

Data-Driven Models : Combine machine learning, big data and other methods to extract aging patterns from actual operating data, suitable for intelligent prediction and online health assessment.

The Alaska Interconnection refers to the electric power systems within the state of Alaska, which are not physically connected to the three major North American power grids: the Eastern Interconnection, the Western Interconnection, and ERCOT (Texas). Instead, Alaska’s electricity infrastructure consists of several isolated regional grids, including microgrids that operate independently across remote and rural communities.

Because these isolated grids cannot rely on energy imports from neighboring states or regions, Alaska depends heavily on local energy resources, including diesel generators, renewables (wind, hydro, solar), and increasingly, battery energy storage systems (BESS).

In the battery industry, the Alaska Interconnection is a key reference point for:

Energy resilience in remote/off-grid environments

Deployment of batteries to stabilize isolated grids

Enabling higher renewable energy penetration

Reducing dependency on imported fossil fuels

Aluminium is a lightweight, conductive, and corrosion-resistant metal widely used in the battery industry, particularly in current collectors, casing materials, and emerging next-generation battery technologies.

In lithium-ion batteries, aluminium is commonly used as the positive electrode (cathode) current collector, where it serves as a conductive substrate for active materials such as lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) or lithium iron phosphate (LFP). Its properties—such as high electrical conductivity, low density, and good corrosion resistance in non-aqueous electrolytes—make it ideal for this application.

Key roles of aluminium in the battery industry include:

Cathode current collector: Thin aluminium foil is used to conduct electrons from the cathode to the external circuit.

Battery packaging: Aluminium is used in prismatic and pouch cell casings due to its light weight and strength.

Emerging battery chemistries: Research is ongoing into aluminium-ion and aluminium-air batteries, which promise high energy density and low cost.

An Ampere-hour (Ah) is a unit of electric charge that represents the amount of current a battery can deliver over time. Specifically, one ampere-hour equals one ampere of current supplied for one hour. It is a standard measure of a battery’s capacity—how much electric charge it can store and deliver. In the battery industry, ampere-hours are used to:
Indicate battery size or capacity

Compare energy storage capability between batteries

Help determine runtime for applications like EVs, tools, or electronics

The anode is one of the two main electrodes in a battery, responsible for storing and releasing electrons during charge and discharge cycles. In most rechargeable batteries, including lithium-ion cells, the anode is the negative electrode during discharge and the positive electrode during charging (based on conventional current flow).

In lithium-ion batteries:
The anode is typically made of graphite, a form of carbon that can reversibly store lithium ions between its layers during charging (a process called intercalation).

During discharge, lithium ions move from the anode to the cathode through the electrolyte, while electrons flow through the external circuit to provide power.

During charging, lithium ions return to the anode from the cathode, where they are stored until the next discharge cycle.

In the context of the energy and battery storage industry, arbitrage refers to the practice of buying electricity when prices are low (typically during off-peak periods) and selling or discharging stored electricity when prices are high (during peak demand periods), thereby generating a profit from the price difference.

How battery arbitrage works:
Charge the battery system from the grid or renewable source when electricity is cheap.

Store the energy in the battery.

Discharge the energy back to the grid or to a local load when electricity prices are higher.

In the battery and energy industry, an Asset Manager refers to either a software platform or a person/organization responsible for monitoring, optimizing, and maintaining energy-related assets—such as battery energy storage systems (BESS), solar panels, inverters, and other power infrastructure. The goal is to maximize asset performance, longevity, and return on investment (ROI).

There are two primary meanings:

Asset Management System (Software)

Provides real-time monitoring, performance analytics, fault detection, and predictive maintenance;

Tracks key parameters such as battery state of health (SOH), state of charge (SOC), charge/discharge cycles, temperature, and BMS status;

Widely used in utility-scale energy storage, microgrids, and distributed energy resources (DERs).

Asset Manager (Person or Organization)

Refers to professionals or teams responsible for the financial and operational management of energy assets;

Tasks include system optimization, lifecycle planning, risk management, and investment strategy;

Plays a critical role in the commercial operation of energy storage and renewable energy projects.

Auto-trading in the energy storage and battery industry refers to the use of automated software platforms or algorithms to optimize the charging and discharging of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in real-time electricity markets.

These platforms continuously monitor market conditions—such as electricity prices, grid signals, and forecasted demand or generation—and automatically execute trades or dispatch decisions to maximize revenue or reduce operating costs without manual intervention.

Availability refers to the percentage of time a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is operational and able to perform its intended functions, such as charging, discharging, or providing grid services, under specified conditions.
Key factors affecting availability:
System reliability (hardware and software)

Scheduled maintenance and downtime

Unexpected failures or faults

Grid connectivity and control system performance

Battery aging (also referred to as battery degradation) describes the gradual loss of performance and capacity in a battery over time due to chemical, mechanical, and thermal processes that occur during its usage and storage. This is a key factor limiting the lifespan, efficiency, and safety of batteries in electric vehicles (EVs), consumer electronics, and energy storage systems (ESS).
Causes of Battery Aging:
Calendar Aging: Degradation over time due to chemical side reactions, even when the battery is not in use

Cycle Aging: Wear from repeated charging and discharging

Electrochemical Side Reactions: Such as solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) growth, lithium plating, or gas formation

Mechanical Stress: Electrode swelling, cracking, or separator degradation

Thermal Effects: Exposure to high or low temperatures accelerates degradation

A battery cell is the basic electrochemical unit in a battery system that stores and delivers electrical energy through a chemical reaction. Each cell contains the essential components—an anode, a cathode, an electrolyte, and a separator—that enable the movement of ions internally and electrons through an external circuit to generate electric power.
Core Components:
Anode (negative electrode) – typically made of graphite or lithium-containing materials

Cathode (positive electrode) – usually composed of lithium metal oxides (e.g., NMC, LFP)

Electrolyte – allows ion transport between electrodes (liquid, gel, or solid)

Separator – prevents direct contact between anode and cathode while allowing ion flow

Side reactions in a battery cell refer to unintended chemical or electrochemical reactions that occur alongside the main charge/discharge processes. These reactions do not contribute to energy storage but can lead to performance degradation, capacity loss, increased internal resistance, and safety issues.

Common types of side reactions include:
Electrolyte decomposition: At high or low voltages, electrolyte components break down, forming gases or unwanted byproducts.

Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) formation: While a stable SEI layer is essential (especially on the anode), continuous growth consumes lithium and leads to capacity fade.

Lithium plating: During fast charging or low-temperature operation, lithium can deposit on the anode surface as metal, reducing battery capacity and posing safety risks.

A Battery Cooling System is a thermal management system designed to regulate the temperature of battery cells during operation, charging, and storage. Proper cooling is essential to maintain optimal performance, safety, and longevity of battery packs, especially in high-power applications such as electric vehicles (EVs), energy storage systems (ESS), and industrial batteries.

Why it’s important:
Prevents overheating, which can lead to thermal runaway, capacity loss, or system failure

Maintains uniform temperature distribution across cells/modules

Enhances charging speed and cycle life

Ensures safety in high-demand or extreme environments

Battery endurance refers to a battery’s ability to sustain performance over time or during extended use, typically under specified operating conditions. It is a measure of how long a battery can operate—either in terms of runtime, cycle life, or resistance to performance degradation—before it requires recharging, maintenance, or replacement.

Factors affecting battery endurance:
Battery chemistry (e.g., lithium-ion, LFP, solid-state)

Depth of discharge (DoD)

Charge/discharge rates (C-rate)

Thermal management and BMS efficiency

Operating environment and usage profile

A battery fire refers to a thermal event in which a battery—most commonly a lithium-ion battery—catches fire due to internal or external conditions that lead to overheating, chemical instability, or thermal runaway. Battery fires are rare under normal use but can be highly energetic, fast-spreading, and difficult to extinguish, making battery safety a critical design and operational priority.
Prevention and Mitigation:
Battery Management System (BMS): Prevents unsafe voltage, current, and temperature conditions

Thermal management systems: Keep cells within safe temperature ranges

Robust mechanical design: Prevents impact damage and isolates faults

Certification & testing: Compliance with standards like UN 38.3, UL 9540A, IEC 62660

The Battery Fitting Process refers to the assembly, integration, and installation of battery cells or packs into a device, system, or enclosure. This process is a critical step in battery manufacturing, system integration, and final product assembly, especially in industries like electric vehicles (EVs), energy storage systems (ESS), consumer electronics, and industrial machinery.
A well-executed battery fitting process ensures:

Reliable performance

Safety and compliance with industry standards

Mechanical robustness for the target application

Efficient use of space in tight form factors (e.g., in EVs or portable devices)

Battery health refers to the overall condition and performance capability of a battery compared to its original (new) state. It is typically expressed as a percentage, indicating how much of the battery’s original capacity or power output is still available after aging, cycling, and exposure to environmental conditions.
Factors That Affect Battery Health:
Cycle Aging: Loss from repeated charge and discharge cycles

Calendar Aging: Degradation over time, even when not in active use

Temperature Stress: High or low temperatures accelerate wear

Overcharging / Deep Discharging: Can cause irreversible chemical changes

High C-rates: Fast charging/discharging can damage internal components

The battery lifecycle refers to the complete sequence of stages a battery goes through from raw material extraction to end-of-life management. It encompasses all phases of use, reuse, and disposal, and is a key concept in sustainability, regulatory compliance, and circular economy strategies in the battery industry.

Battery manufacturing is the industrial process of producing battery cells, modules, and packs through a sequence of precise electrochemical, mechanical, and thermal processes. It involves the assembly of key materials—such as electrodes, electrolytes, and separators—into fully functional energy storage devices, and is a critical part of the global energy transition, especially in sectors like electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy storage, and consumer electronics.