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"Batteries are so ubiquitous today that they're almost invisible to us. Yet they are a remarkable invention with a long and storied history, and an equally exciting future. A battery is essentially a device that stores chemical energy that is converted into electricity. Basically, batteries are small chemical reactors, with the reaction producing energetic electrons, ready to flow through the external device. Batteries have been with us for a long time. In 1938 the Director of the Baghdad Museum found what is now referred to as the "Baghdad Battery" in the basement of the museum. Analysis dated it at around 250BC and of Mesopotamian origin."

"Financial services firm Morgan Stanley predicts that up to a million Australian households could adopt home battery storage in the next four years. And, according to the Alternative Technology Association's (ATA) 2015 Household Battery Analysis, grid-connected solar and battery storage systems are likely to become economically attractive for most households by 2020. But there are some situations which may make it a good option before then. We've talked to the experts and combed the research to help you navigate your way into the energy revolution."

"A research team from the University of Wollongong has declared what it says is a major breakthrough in boosting the potential range of EV batteries."

"Materials scientists and electrochemists the world over are joining forces to create new types of batteries that perform better and last longer, are more reliable and demand less of the environment. The latest in a line of promising developments plugs into the properties of certain plants, crops and biological wastes."

"The first sod was turned this week for what will soon become home to Australia's largest battery. The battery is an important component of the King Island Renewable Energy Integration Project (KIREIP), which aims to reduce the island's reliance on diesel fuel and increase use of renewable energy to supply the island's power needs."

"Powerwall is a home battery that charges using electricity generated from solar panels, or when utility rates are low, and powers your home in the evening. It also fortifies your home against power outages by providing a backup electricity supply. Automated, compact and simple to install, Powerwall offers independence from the utility grid and the security of an emergency backup."

"The plunging cost of solar PV means that it may now be half the cost of grid-based electricity, according to some industry estimates."

"Imagine having a wafer-thin touchscreen on your sleeve that, like a scene out of a Philip K. Dick novel, gives you all the functionality of a smartphone without the awkwardness of a cumbersome battery. The best part about this scenario is it may not be as far from reality as you think."

Designed by Croatian architect Ivica Gjurić, the home is primarily intended as a vacation residence. It is a mere 258 sq ft; this figure can be halved in 5-6 minutes when its two sides fold into each other via hydraulic compressors for easier transport. The house can be operated completely off-grid. Solar panels handle electricity; the builders say it can operate with minimal sun for three days with solar-charged batteries. Water is brought in from rainwater collectors. Heating and the stove are fueled by a propane tank. There is a built-in waste water filtration unit so you won't need to get a septic tank.

"The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in South Korea has been working on extending the range and convenience of operating electric buses. Two new buses are now being trialled in the city of Gumi that use technology in the road to wirelessly charge their batteries."

"Researchers at Stanford University have found a way to harvest considerable amounts of electricity from an unlikely source: poop. In a paper published this month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Xing Xie and his team of engineers describe a "microbial battery" capable of generating electricity from naturally occurring sewage bacteria."

The Boomerang Alliance, made up of 28 of Australia`s leading community and environment groups, is campaigning for a 10 cent refund on bottles and cans to reduce the litter and double recycling rates across Australia; tyre recycling and an end to illegal tyre dumps; and more e-waste/battery recycling. This infographic looks at some of the issues related to container deposit schemes.