With current technology, there isn't enough lithium on the planet to make enough batteries to run the world on non-constant renewables like wind and solar.
You don't need lithium at all for stationary energy storage, it's just attractive for mobile applications because it's less heavy than iron nickle for example.
mix of decentralized nickel-iron batteries for homes, semi-centralized nickel-iron banks as a supplement on infrastructure level, pumped water storage wherever possible, some power to hydrogen for overly productive days or where pumping isn't realistic.
Also, it's not like you can't have a few backup gas plants for emergencies. Those can be 'turned on' almost instantly - as opposed to nuclear for example.
Batteries, bud. This is a solved problem.
With current technology, there isn't enough lithium on the planet to make enough batteries to run the world on non-constant renewables like wind and solar.
You don't need lithium at all for stationary energy storage, it's just attractive for mobile applications because it's less heavy than iron nickle for example.
What specific mode of energy storage do you suggest?
mix of decentralized nickel-iron batteries for homes, semi-centralized nickel-iron banks as a supplement on infrastructure level, pumped water storage wherever possible, some power to hydrogen for overly productive days or where pumping isn't realistic.
Also, it's not like you can't have a few backup gas plants for emergencies. Those can be 'turned on' almost instantly - as opposed to nuclear for example.