Lebanon energy storage and other technology demonstrations

Why are energy storage systems being integrated in MENA?

The pace of integration of energy storage systems in MENA is driven by three main factors: 1) the technical need associated with the accelerated deployment of renewables, 2) the technological advancements driving ESS cost competitiveness, and 3) the policy support and power markets evolution that incentivizes investments.

Which energy storage solutions will be the leading energy storage solution in MENA?

Electrochemical storage (batteries) will be the leading energy storage solution in MENA in the short to medium terms, led by sodium-sulfur (NaS) and lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries.

Which energy storage technology has the most installed capacity in MENA?

Pumped hydro storage (PHS) has the largest share of installed capacity in MENA at 55%, as compared to a global share of 90%. Pumped hydro storage is one of the oldest energy storage technologies, which explains its dominance in the global ESS market.

Is ESS a viable technology in MENA?

With the lack of a long-duration grid-scale ESS to date, ESS is still viewed as an emerging technology in MENA and associated with high technology and financing risks by the private sector. Accordingly, ESS projects might require more equity spending as compared to conventional power and renewables projects for the short to medium term.

Which ESS Technology is most popular in MENA?

Although PHS dominates the ESS landscape in MENA, the technology is non-modular, capital intensive, and has a lower eficiency as compared to other ESS technologies. Electrochemical energy storage, or batteries, are gaining traction in MENA, where out of the total on-grid ESS projects, 80% are of the battery type.

Which country has the most battery storage capacity in MENA?

Currently, NaS battery technology dominates the battery storage capacity in operation in MENA, particularly in the UAE, with a total of 108 MW/648 MWh projects developed by the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA).