Storage plays a crucial role in energy systems by providing both upward and downward flexibility. It can store energy either when there is generation surplus or lower demand and discharge in the opposite case. Depending on the time scale (miliseconds up to months), there are different roles that storage can play in energy systems.
Kelly Loukatou, one of the ESO’s energy insight leads, considers the role energy storage plays in the current energy landscape and how this is likely to develop. Energy systems need to continuously match supply and demand to ensure that electricity is delivered securely to UK houses and businesses.
They also intend to effect the potential advancements in storage of energy by advancing energy sources. Renewable energy integration and decarbonization of world energy systems are made possible by the use of energy storage technologies.
For 100% renewable energy systems (power, heat, mobility), the storage requirement can be kept below 6% of the annual energy demand. Combination of sectors and diverting the electricity to another sector can play a large role in minimizing the storage size.
To meet these gaps and maintain a balance between electricity production and demand, energy storage systems (ESSs) are considered to be the most practical and efficient solutions. ESSs are designed to convert and store electrical energy from various sales and recovery needs [, , ].
The power storage needs for electricity systems are at most 1.5% of equivalent annual demand in terms of energy rating when the penetration is less than 95%. Most of the storage need is for daily fluctuations, where further additions of capacity have diminishing marginal added value.