The resurgence of the hemp plant is tied to so many potential — and imminent — success stories that it’s hard not to feel like a cheerleader for its merits. From its ancient roots alongside human civilization, through its demonization and propaganda-driven downfall, hemp has fought a winding and turbulent road back to relevance. Over the past decade, it has emerged stronger than ever, positioned as a climate-adapted crop ready to help humanity decarbonize and mitigate the accelerating effects of climate change.
Last month’s blog explored the broad spectrum of hemp’s impact on the planetary boundaries. This month, we turn our focus to the growing demands of energy consumption in an era of “green” transition — and the critical role of battery storage within it. As mining for battery minerals increasingly strains Earth’s finite resources, the need for regenerative alternatives becomes urgent. Once again, hemp is in pole position in the race for solutions.
As we shift toward renewable energy sources, the demand for efficient storage solutions has exploded. Batteries have become the backbone of this transition — powering everything from electric vehicles to decentralized energy grids. Yet behind their promise lies a hidden cost: the extraction of finite resources like lithium, cobalt, and nickel leaves deep scars on ecosystems and communities.
Most green technologies still rely heavily on the conventional lithium-ion battery. However, one ton of mined lithium emits nearly 15 tons of CO₂, and even more emissions are generated during the manufacturing of lithium or EV batteries. Beyond the carbon footprint, the mining of raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel requires enormous quantities of chemicals and water. Ironically, the regions known for these resources are often those already battling severe water scarcity for human consumption.
This is where hemp offers a remarkable advantage. Widely accepted today as an agricultural crop, hemp brings relief to overworked soils, with a far lower demand for water, fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. When cultivated correctly, hemp can even leave soils in a healthier state than they were before planting — a true regenerative ally.
On the processing side — assuming that harvesting and industrial processing technologies continue advancing alongside hemp’s reintroduction into mainstream agriculture — the journey from bast fiber to carbon nanosheets begins similarly to the making of paper. Within the paper industry, hemp has already demonstrated its efficiency: requiring less water, no chemical additives, and producing technical-grade paper thanks to its robust cellulose fibers.
This ability to transform bast fiber into carbon nanosheets is at the heart of innovation in hemp-based batteries, a development largely credited to the research of David Mitlin. Thanks to its properties similar to graphene, hemp provides a cost-effective and planet-friendly alternative to conventional materials.
The high conductivity of hemp’s bast fibers also opens the door to the development of supercapacitors, enabling rapid charge and discharge cycles. Scientist Carl Martel even envisioned a future where hempcrete building bricks could become active supercapacitors — transforming homes into self-sustaining energy power plants. While this concept remains visionary and is still in its research and development phase, the recyclability and sustainability of hemp batteries are already seen as key advantages driving their innovation.
As research progresses, hemp once again reminds us of its capacity to regenerate, innovate, and offer real solutions for a world in urgent need of change.
On a Personal Note
As with all new innovations driving toward a regenerative future, it is important to remember that they are often met with a mix of enthusiasm, doubt, and skepticism. This has fueled a fair amount of myth-making around hemp batteries over the past years.
The reality is that hemp-based energy storage has already been under serious research for over a decade, and several companies are now offering different versions of hemp batteries. While most of these solutions are not yet price-competitive with established market products, we can expect breakthroughs in the coming years as demand rises and market competition intensifies.
As a Climate Impact Storyteller, Maren Krings leverages her expertise in photography, filmmaking, content writing, and keynote speaking to highlight the potential of hemp for climate resilience and social justice. She holds a B.F.A. in Photography from the Savannah College of Art & Design, a degree in Climate Change Studies and Environmental Science from the University of Exeter, and multiple certifications in related fields.
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