Why Energy Storage?

Energy storage works by storing energy at times when generation exceeds demand and then releasing electricity back to the network when demand exceeds generation. Energy storage has been identified as an essential part of the UK’s future energy system and will be crucial in enabling the rollout of zero and low carbon energy, supporting the UK’s net-zero emissions target and ensuring safe and reliable operation of the grid network.

Broxburn Energy Storage System, West Lothian © Keith Arkins

The latest report from the IPCC, in March 2022, has stated that many of the impacts of climate change are now simply irreversible. However, the report also says that there remains a small window of opportunity to act to avoid some of the worst impacts predicted.

In June 2022, Durham County Council announced their own new Climate Emergency Response Plan, outlining an improved aim to achieve net zero by 2030 in its operations.

The rapid deployment of onshore wind and other renewables will be central to achieving the Government’s net zero commitments as well as enabling more energy to be generated domestically improving security of supply.

Renewable energy technologies are needed to replace electricity generation from fossil fuels, however, they generate electricity intermittently depending on weather conditions. This causes problems for the national grid network which must be finely balanced; electrical demand must match electrical generation at all times. If this balance is not achieved, it can lead to blackouts and the failure of grid circuits. Our electricity system is in a transitionary period to manage these increasingly complex supply and demand needs of the 21st Century, and energy storage systems will play a key part by maintaining this balance.

Energy storage systems can be co-located as part of an electricity generation scheme or standalone systems, such as the Spennymoor project. Energy storage systems are connected directly to the grid network, they do not need to be directly connected to wind and solar generation to provide these benefits.