The role of energy storage generator

There is a growing need to increase the capacity for storing the energy generated from the burgeoning wind and solar industries for periods when there is less wind and sun. This is driving unprecedented growth in the energy storage sector and many countries have ambitions to participate in the global storage supply chains.

Energy storage creates a buffer in the power system that can absorb any excess energy in periods when renewables produce more than is required. This stored energy is then sent back to the grid when supply is limited.

Storage technologies are a promising option to provide the power system with the flexibility required when intermittent renewables are present in the electricity generation mix. This paper focuses on the role of electricity storage in energy systems with high shares of renewable sources.

The power sector needs to ensure a rapid transition towards a low-carbon energy system to avoid the dangerous consequences of greenhouse gas emissions. Storage technologies are a promising option to provide the power system with the flexibility required when intermittent renewables are present in the electricity generation mix.

In the presence of storage (scenario Ref.1), small variations occur in the generation mix. N A T E M replaces the decommissioned storage facilities ensuring a constant capacity over time. As constant storage capacity is available, the model shows one percent increase in cumulative electricity generation from natural gas.

The model comparison assesses electricity storage role and its modelling challenges. Storage enables lower cost transitions including high variable renewables uptakes. Carbon taxes might promote non-variable rather than variable renewables. Diversity in storage costs, geographical, and temporal granularity affects outcomes.