As more and more locations adopt wind and solar energy, electricity delays of more than eight hours are increasingly common. This is due to the grids and their feeders that span across time zones, allowing for extra hours of solar power. However, a new report from Zhar Research has looked into the need for long duration energy storage (LDES), and the alternatives that are available.
Dr Peter Harrop, CEO of Zhar Research, stated: “Relatively continuous sources of electricity such as geothermal, tidal and wave power are becoming more widely available. This, combined with global warming, is reducing the need for seasonal storage. That being said, a trillion-dollar global LDES requirement is still expected over the coming years.”
The Zhar Research report notes that it will become increasingly difficult for companies and technologies to compete as the required delay and duration of discharge extends. It also suggests that non-flammable and non-toxic storage solutions with few recycling issues will be favoured, as well as those with very long life.
For those needing storage of up to 24-100 hour duration, technologies such as form energy iron-air batteries, redox flow batteries, liquid air, liquid carbon dioxide, lifting weights, compressed air CAES and pumped hydro PHES are being trialled.
Dr Harrop also warned of the danger of companies ‘leaping from small pilots to very large commercial facilities’, and that the end game will be winning technologies for grid such as PHES and CAES. He added: “The $5 billion winning operations will offer both grid and beyond-grid solutions but there will be successful niche players as well.”
Zhar Research has released two reports: “Long Duration Energy Storage LDES Reality: Materials, Equipment Markets in 35 Lines, Technology Roadmaps, Manufacturers, Winners, Losers, Alternatives 2024-2044” and “Long Duration Energy Storage LDES beyond grids: markets, technologies for microgrids, minigrids, buildings, industrial processes 0.1-500MWh 2024-2044”; as well as a report on Redox Flow Batteries. More information is available at www.zharresearch.com and www.giiresearch.com.
