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Analysts predict massive growth for storage systems that can provide many hours of uninterrupted power, but the sheer diversity of contenders in this field makes it hard for a dominant technology to emerge
There are good technical reasons for developing low-cost, long-duration energy storage systems, although market opportunities remain uncertain
RESOURCE CHALLENGE The world’s dominant battery chemistries use materials that may be too precious to waste on long-duration, gigawatt-scale storage
COMMERCIAL FORCES Scaling up alternatives to lithium-ion could be hard because of the diversity of technologies available
KEY QUOTE The long-duration bridge will be molecule, not electron based
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Batteries score in their ability to rapidly inject bursts of electricity into the grid, but demand for the service is not greater in countries furthest ahead in transitioning to renewable energy
The ups and downs in demand for electricity have long made the flexible operation of power systems a must, so increasing that flexibility to also accommodate variations in supply from renewables is not that big a challenge. Having a clear definition of the term can only help the energy transition
Researchers in Germany are looking at further developing molten salt technology as a means to store heat and produce electricity
As economic activity declined under the pandemic so did demand for electricity. Fossil fuel generation was squeezed off the grid by renewable energy projects with lower marginal costs. Fears that the higher proportion of fluctuating supply would destabilise power systems proved unfounded and grids remained stable. If renewables are to be tasked with keeping the grid secure, alternative mechanisms, already available, must be introduced soon
The share of hydroelectric power in electricity generation is set to decrease as solar and wind come to dominate. Yet, hydropower has a crucial role to play in providing flexibility and storage for grids increasingly running on variable renewable energy resources
Special report - Electricity Storage part 3/5: By relieving grid bottlenecks of surplus supply and providing bursts of power when needed, storage can add sufficient value to find routes to profitability, but they are limited
