What is the future of energy storage?

Storage enables electricity systems to remain in balance despite variations in wind and solar availability, allowing for cost-effective deep decarbonization while maintaining reliability. The Future of Energy Storage report is an essential analysis of this key component in decarbonizing our energy infrastructure and combating climate change.

Are batteries the future of energy storage?

Developments in batteries and other energy storage technology have accelerated to a seemingly head-spinning pace recently — even for the scientists, investors, and business leaders at the forefront of the industry. After all, just two decades ago, batteries were widely believed to be destined for use only in small objects like laptops and watches.

How is energy storage reshaping the energy landscape?

The energy storage sector is evolving rapidly with advancements in lithium alternatives, hydrogen storage, and solid-state batteries. Technologies like BESS, redox flow batteries, and distributed storage systems are reshaping the energy landscape.

Why is energy storage important?

Energy storage is a potential substitute for, or complement to, almost every aspect of a power system, including generation, transmission, and demand flexibility. Storage should be co-optimized with clean generation, transmission systems, and strategies to reward consumers for making their electricity use more flexible.

Why do we need a co-optimized energy storage system?

The need to co-optimize storage with other elements of the electricity system, coupled with uncertain climate change impacts on demand and supply, necessitate advances in analytical tools to reliably and efficiently plan, operate, and regulate power systems of the future.

Was 2024 a good year for energy storage?

For a good overview of the energy storage situation at the end of last year, focused on batteries collected to act at grid scales, read “ 2024 was a fantastic year for energy storage ” (Julian Spector, Canary Media).