– RenewableUK report shows that building more energy storage projects alongside onshore wind and solar farms reduces electricity system costs
– Storage projects are vital for providing flexibility in the UK’s clean energy system, especially with increasing demand from technologies like electric vehicles
– Co-locating battery storage and hydrogen projects at existing wind and solar sites can save time and money, with the potential to save the UK up to £16.7 billion a year by 2050 in electricity system costs
A recent report by RenewableUK highlights the importance of building more energy storage projects alongside onshore wind and solar farms to reduce electricity system costs and benefit billpayers in the long run. These storage projects play a crucial role in providing flexibility in the UK’s clean energy system to ensure continuous electricity supply, especially with the growing demand from technologies such as electric vehicles.
The report emphasizes the need for reforming the planning system and introducing financial support mechanisms to encourage the co-location of battery storage and green hydrogen projects with existing clean electricity generation sites. This approach can save time and money by utilizing sites with planning permission and shared grid connections. Currently, the queue for energy projects awaiting connection in the UK has surpassed 700 GW, with 97 GW accounted for by battery storage projects alone.
Co-locating solar projects with battery storage could potentially reduce construction and operational costs by 50%. Research indicates that enabling a more flexible energy system with storage could save the UK up to £16.7 billion annually by 2050 in electricity system costs, ultimately benefiting consumers. The report also calls on National Grid ESO to recognize the value of co-location flexibility for a net zero system to attract new investments.
In conclusion, the report suggests that overcoming policy and regulatory barriers hindering the growth of storage projects co-located with renewables is essential to unlock the benefits for the energy system and consumers. A coordinated effort across markets, grid, planning, and technical aspects is needed to facilitate the deployment of co-located projects and reduce electricity system costs in the long term.