The role of long duration energy storage systems as support to renewable sources and accelerators towards the energy transition

As the penetration of renewable sources in the electricity system increases and the need to decarbonise industrial processes grows, Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) systems are emerging as essential tools. These systems allow energy to be stored in different forms, including electrochemical, thermal, mechanical or chemical, depending on the technology used. They are defined as long-duration storage because they allow both to store energy for extended periods, from hours to days, weeks or even months, but also to supply electricity or heat for periods exceeding 8 hours. LDES technologies are therefore essential to solve the problem of the intermittence of renewable sources, to support the energy transition and to ensure a continuous and reliable supply of electricity and heat for industrial sectors.

With long-duration energy storage systems, we can accelerate the transition to renewable energy in a cost-effective, reliable and sustainable way. Renewable technologies such as wind and solar, which are now among the most affordable energy options, require storage systems to align supply with demand. Consumers generate peak demand mainly in the morning and evening, which must be met with additional energy integration. Currently, this imbalance is still compensated by using traditional fossil fuel systems, but the time has come to use flexible and long-duration energy storage solutions to achieve “Carbon Neutrality”.

The growing need to ensure a clean, reliable and affordable energy system has been further accentuated by recent challenges in the energy sector, which have brought energy security to the centre of the global agenda. The integration of long-duration storage systems can play a crucial role in strengthening security of supply and opening new scenarios for the use of renewable energy, allowing to respond to needs such as increasing the share of renewables in the energy mix, providing flexibility and resilience to unreliable networks, in isolated or remote areas, enabling efficient and continuous (24/7) renewable power purchase agreements (PPAs).