Energy storage can solve intermittent problems

Can energy storage be a solution to the energy storage problem?

We explore energy storage as a solution to this problem, considering the physics of the system to gain understanding of its needs, rather than using its economics, which may lead to less adequate designs. The scale and the periodic nature of the energy storage problem are crucial to system design.

Why do we need different energy storage technologies?

The scale and the periodic nature of the energy storage problem are crucial to system design. There are very different physical needs for storing energy for: days, weeks and years. Therefore a range of storage technologies with their differing characteristic will be required for these different periods.

How does intermittency affect renewable supply?

As the share of renewables increases from current levels (20–30%), the inherent variability of renewable supply - intermittency - will be felt across the whole system. Wind and solar outputs are completely dependent on the weather, its natural changes, its uncertainties and its periodicity.

How can a zero-carbon energy system be minimised?

7. Conclusions Future zero-carbon energy systems that depend on high percentages of intermittent solar and wind supply will have large energy storage needs which can be minimised by the choice of solar/wind mix, the amount of overcapacity and the use of some baseload supply.

Does the UK need a 2050 energy storage system?

The scale of the UK's energy storage need is large - more than a thousand times that of current storage systems - potentially increasing the energy costs of a 2050 energy system based largely on solar and wind, by a significant amount.

Are energy storage needs similar if wind is dominant?

Energy storage needs for other Northern countries seeking net-zero systems and where wind is dominant are likely to be similar. A simple scheduling scheme assigns high-frequency variations to the most efficient stores using them first.