What’s in store
Clean power is great, but green electrons cannot always be used immediately after they are generated. That is where storage comes into the mix. Thomas Lewis joins the Dispatch this week to explain what the sector needs to take the next big leap
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More clean power is being added to energy mixes on a daily basis, but it does not matter how many wind turbines or solar panels are installed; the electrons still need to reach homes and businesses. Supply cannot always match demand, either in quantity or timing, so that is where storage comes in. Whether it is hydropower dams, grid batteries, molten salt or the power of gravity, storage — both conventional and innovative — is gearing up to play an absolutely fundamental role in decarbonised energy systems.
The road ahead is by no means a smooth one, though, as many hurdles stand in the way of 24/7 on-demand green electricity. Developers need to establish strong business cases to support their storage ambitions, and some policies are already helping to make that a reality. More changes are needed to unlock a storage boom and also establish the technology as a safeguard against the price spike crisis that happened towards the end of 2022. Helping to turbocharge this week’s Dispatch is Thomas Lewis from the European Association for the Storage of Energy.
Enjoy the dispatch!
If you have any thoughts or questions about anything that has been discussed in this week’s episode, you can reach us at our Twitter accounts:
Thomas Lewis
Sam Morgan
@Policy Dispatch
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