Unlocking net zero with long-duration energy storage

Decarbonising Britain’s electricity grid by 2030 is a central plank of the new government’s energy policy, as well as a key milestone on the long and arduous path to net zero. In the short time since entering Downing Street, Labour has made significant moves around onshore wind and solar, along with the massive expansion of offshore wind via the latest CfD auction. All of these are vital for a cleaner grid, but rapid growth of renewables in isolation will not be sufficient. 

As more and more clean energy assets are deployed, the ability to store their intermittent output becomes increasingly vital. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that to support COP28 pledges to triple worldwide renewable energy capacity to 11TW by 2030, energy storage will need to increase sixfold. Perhaps even more importantly, the type of energy storage that we add to the grid also needs to evolve.

“Today, most grid-scale energy storage projects have durations of 2-4 hours,” said Alan Greenshields, EMEA director at ESS. “However, 2-4 hours is not adequate to meet the needs of a fully renewable grid.”