Major investment is urgently needed to roll out up to 24GW of long-duration energy storage over the next 15 years to help smooth operation of the grid as it contends with a rapid influx of intermittent wind power capacity, Aurora Energy Research has warned.
The energy consultancy stressed that Britain’s electricity system had the potential to be clean, affordable and reliable in keeping the lights on, in line with the government’s goal for a net zero power grid dominated by renewables technologies by 2035.
But it warned major investment was urgently needed to build up energy security as the transition takes hold, and that while flexibility technologies and lithium-ion battery storage would play their part, systems that can store electricity for longer periods would also be critical for net zero.
In research published last week, it estimated up to 24GW of so-called long duration…
Research: 24GW of long duration energy storage needed for net zero UK grid
