Energy storage could lead to 100% renewable electricity supply, according to a new report by consultancy WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff.
The report – Energy Storage: the final piece in the jigsaw – said that rapid technological evolution and reduced costs means energy storage techniques can increasingly be deployed at scale.
It added that many technologies are now available, including batteries, pumped hydro, hydrogen, flywheels and compressed air.
“This means that energy users and developers alike need to act fast to make the most of the increasing number of opportunities available,” the consultancy said.
The immediate course of action is to find a clean and practical understanding of energy storage and then develop a strategy to make the most of the opportunities, it added.
WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff technical director and contributor to the study Katherine Jackson said: “Storing energy on a large scale will cut energy bills for all, reduce CO2 emissions, support the transition to the all-electric city, and could open the door to 100% renewable energy supply.”
Image: Grand Ridge energy storage project (Invenergy)
