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Future of Flexible Batteries: Key Insights and Market Growth

IDTechEx's latest report on flexible batteries highlights key insights, advantages, market growth, and applications in wearables and smart labels. Learn about future trends and opportunities.

Maria Guerra, Senior Editor-Battery Technology

July 17, 2024

4 Min Read
Flexible batteries.
Various flexible batteries are displayed at the LiBest booth during a press event for CES. David Becker / Stringer/Getty Images News

As traditional battery technologies reach their limitations in emerging applications, flexible batteries offer unique advantages with their ability to bend, stretch, and conform to various shapes. IDTechEx's latest report, "Flexible Batteries Market 2025-2035: Technologies, Forecasts, and Players," categorizes these batteries into two main groups: lower-capacity options like thin-film and micro-batteries and higher-capacity solutions such as advanced lithium-ion and bulk solid-state batteries. Despite their high cost, flexible batteries are carving out niches in industries like smart labels and wearables, where their distinct form factor provides critical benefits. The report projects significant growth in these markets, which are driven by innovations and increasing demand for specialized applications. Key findings are summarized here.

Categories of flexible battery technologies

IDTechEx identifies advanced lithium-ion and bulk solid-state technologies as the less mature flexible battery technologies. According to IDTechEx, "Advanced lithium-ion in this case describes a battery structure that is similar in chemistry to traditional lithium-ion cells but with innovations that enhance flexibility, e.g., cell packaging or electrolyte." The report notes that both liquid electrolyte batteries and semi-solid polymer electrolyte batteries can be included in this category. Bulk solid-state batteries, it explains, "describe a non-thin battery with a solid-state electrolyte, though it need not be 100% solid. Examples of solid-state electrolytes include ceramics and sulfides."

Related:New Military EV & Wearable Battery Ready to Be Called Up

Flexible batteries

Advantages and challenges

Flexible batteries offer significant advantages, as noted by IDTechEx: "A battery that can be rolled, stretched, and bent without losing functionality could prove a significant advantage in the right use case." However, IDTechEx also highlights a major challenge: "Flexible batteries are competing with significantly cheaper traditional technologies such as coin cells." The report compares costs, stating, "Coin cells can be less than US$0.50/Wh, while the cheapest flexible battery options are around US$3/Wh."

Low-capacity flexible batteries: Smart labels

One primary niche for low-capacity flexible batteries is smart labels, according to IDTechEx. The report states, "Smart labels have become the primary niche for the first category of low-capacity batteries." These thin batteries, it explains, "are integrated into labels, tags, and sensors used for quality control and logistics in industry settings." IDTechEx highlights the market growth, projecting that "The flexible battery market for smart labels and RFID tags is valued at US$14.3 million in 2025 and is expected to grow with a CAGR of 23.9% over the next decade."

Related:Flexible Battery Has 10 Times More Power than Current Lithium Designs

Higher-capacity flexible batteries: Wearables

The focus on higher-capacity flexible batteries is shifting toward wearables, according to IDTechEx. The report states, "Companies supplying the second category of higher-capacity batteries are increasingly focusing on wearables applications." It notes the specific demands of wearables, stating, "Products worn on the body frequently require tailored form factors as they must be comfortable when worn." IDTechEx observes that "Flexible batteries have begun to align with the demand for wearables," noting advancements that "provide energy storage solutions that can meet energy density and lifetime requirements while still retaining a flexible form factor."

Advancements and market potential

IDTechEx underscores the progress in flexible battery technologies, noting that "Advanced lithium-ion and bulk solid-state flexible batteries have begun to move from the development stage into semi-commercialization." The report emphasizes that suppliers are targeting opportunities in wearables, particularly for "wrist-worn wearables and electronic headwear." However, IDTechEx cautions that "The high cost of flexible battery options cannot be justified for low-cost, mass-produced products."

Industry examples and market projections

The report cites LiBEST as an industry example, stating, "Since 2024, LiBEST has focused on advanced lithium-ion batteries for high-end XR headsets and hearables." IDTechEx projects, "The total wearables market for flexible batteries (including skin patches) is valued at US$43.3 million in 2025 and is expected to grow with a CAGR of 21.6% over the next decade." Despite these growth projections, IDTechEx concludes that "The overall flexible battery market remains small, at just US$71.7 million in 2025, compared to a global lithium-ion battery market of over US$50 billion."

The comprehensive insights provided by IDTechEx's report, "Flexible Batteries Market 2025-2035: Technologies, Forecasts, and Players," highlight the opportunities and growth prospects for flexible battery technologies over the next decade. As advancements continue, flexible batteries are expected to unlock new applications and drive market growth in niche, high-end segments.

To find out more about this report, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/Flex.

About the Author

Maria Guerra

Senior Editor-Battery Technology, Informa Markets Engineering

Battery Technology Senior Editor Maria L. Guerra is an electrical engineer with a background in Oil & Gas consulting and experience as a Power/Analog Editor for Electronic Design.  Maria graduated from NYU Tandon School of Engineering with a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (MSEE). She combines her technical expertise with her knack for writing. 

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