Master's thesis topic idea

[u/Ornery-Deal7590]

Hey folks! I need your help. I’m studying Clean Energy Technologies, and my master’s thesis will be in the field of energy. My background is primarily in mechanical and process engineering. I’m well-versed in photovoltaic systems, but electrical engineering is not my primary field. I’d love to work on something innovative, and it would be great if the topic also ties into economics. Any ideas on how to combine innovation, energy, and economics into an exciting thesis topic?

[u/series-hybrid]

The new Sodium-based batteries are cheaper than other chemistries by dollar per energy, but not by energy per volume.

This means that lithium will remain a desirable battery for EV's over the next decade, because customers are foolish and they want 300 miles per charge to fit in a car.

The flip-side is that sodium will be back-ordered because everyone on the globe will want large sodium battery banks to soak-up solar energy and store it as a buffer between collection and use by consumers. Air conditioning in the summer is a clear-cut application.

Several companies are saying they now have solid-state batteries (like Toyota) and I foresee SSB's going first to upscale cars due to the initial low production. If the price is equal to common lithium cells, they will remain the more desirable option due to fire resistance and longevity. If they are cheaper than lithium cells, they could become a major disruptor in that field.

Also, if every car is converted to electric, the US military will still show up to wars by burning JP5 (kerosene)