No matter how much generating capacity is installed, there will be times when wind and solar cannot meet all demand, and large-scale storage will be needed. Historical weather records indicate that it will be necessary to store large amounts of energy (some 1000 times that provided by pumped hydro) for many years.
It draws on studies from around the world but is focussed on the need for large-scale electrical energy storage in Great Britaina (GB) and how, and at what cost, storage needs might best be met. In 2050 Great Britain’s demand for electricity could be met by wind and solar energy supported by large-scale storage.
Due to the variability of renewable electricity (wind, solar) and its lack of synchronicity with the peaks of electricity demand, there is an essential need to store electricity at times of excess supply, for use at times of high demand. This article reviews some of the key issues concerning electricity storage.
GB will need large-scale energy storage to complement high levels of wind and solar power. No low-carbon sources can do so at a comparable cost. Construction of the large-scale hydrogen storage that will be needed should begin now. royalsociety.org/electricity-storage.
Great Britain’s demand for electricity could be met largely (or even wholly) by wind and solar energy supported by large-scale storage at a cost that compares favourably with the costs of low-carbon alternatives, which are not well suited to complementing intermittent wind and solar energy and variable demand.
Certainly, large-scale electrical energy storage systems may alleviate many of the inherent inefficiencies and deficiencies in the grid system, and help improve grid reliability, facilitate full integration of intermittent renewable sources, and effectively manage power generation. Electrical energy storage offers two other important advantages.