Future of Energy Storage: Balancing Flexibility and Duration for Net Zero

#GreenInfrastructureWeek Recorded 6th Nov 2024. Join us for an engaging session featuring leading experts discussing the critical role of energy storage in achieving the UK’s net zero goals. Prof. Martin Freer, Chief Executive of The Faraday Institution, will explore two essential approaches to managing the intermittency of future electricity generation: enhancing flexibility in consumption and developing significant-scale storage solutions. He will discuss the importance of household demand management through in-home battery storage and the role of electric vehicle batteries, as well as the contributions of grid-scale storage from large battery installations. Prof. Seamus Garvey, Professor of Dynamics from the University of Nottingham will highlight the diverse landscape of energy storage solutions required for a net zero UK. He will outline the necessity of four distinct storage duration categories-very short, short, medium, and long-and present a cost-optimised framework for their funding. With projections indicating that spending on energy storage could rival that of PV panels and wind turbines, he will argue for a re-evaluation of funding allocations to ensure a balanced and effective energy storage system. Naomi Baker, Senior Policy Manager at Energy UK, will explore the ‘level playing field’ in energy markets, addressing how market mechanisms can lower prices and whether the 2030 target will aid or hinder progress. She will also highlight the varying market readiness among flexible energy contenders, emphasising the need for subsidies or regulatory changes. Tony Dye, Chief Technology Officer at Epicam will discuss his development of scalable longer duration Liquid Air Energy Storage and Regeneration (LAESAR) technology with RTE potential of 68%, targeting storage provision to 10% of grid capacity for global power grids. LAESAR also incorporates direct capture of CO2 and CH4 from process air. It can transform Wind turbines into local energy storage sites, eliminating curtailment and simplifying grid management, forming a global population of wind facilities capable of extracting 10 gigatonnes/yr. of CO2 to repair Earth’s climate.