{
  "id": 168724,
  "title": "Energy storage: The storage paradox – why new batteries can endanger the power grid",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/05/energiespeicher-das-speicher-paradox-warum-neue-batterien-das",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-05T08:59:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/energie/energiespeicher-welche-technik-das-stromnetz-der-zukunft-traegt/100238809.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "Freiburg, Germany is home to a groundbreaking development in energy storage – the world's first quantum battery. Quantum mechanics, the physics governing the subatomic realm, is not only used for calculating complex data on quantum computers but also holds promise for storing electricity. Researchers from the Australian research organization CSIRO recently announced the creation of this potentially revolutionary technology.\n\nAccording to James Quach, the leader of the research team, quantum batteries may one day enable electric vehicles to charge much faster than traditional gasoline-powered cars. However, the discovery is still in its infancy, as the demonstrated storage capacity remains minuscule. A rough estimate suggests that the battery could store an energy equivalent to one-billionth of a watt-second, states a quantum researcher at a German institute.\n\nDespite its current limitations, the quantum battery remains an intriguing prospect for fundamental research. There are several variants under development. One of these utilizes superconductivity, a phenomenon that allows for loss-free circular current flow, essentially serving as a storage medium. Quantum physicist Birger Horstmann from the German Aerospace Center explains that the appeal of the quantum battery lies in its rapid charging and discharging capabilities. This feature becomes particularly relevant when tiny amounts of electricity are required for short periods.\n\nHowever, the current power density of the technology is only a thousandth of what supercapacitors, another form of high-capacity energy storage, can achieve. As for long-term storage applications, quantum batteries are unlikely to have a significant role in the near future: \"The effort required to maintain storage is substantial, including the energy expenditure.\"",
  "summary": "Quantum batteries, sodium ions, solid-state: the technology is making progress. However, investors often charge their storage systems at times when it harms the grid. What needs to change.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}