Battery power has the potential to transform the electricity industry – but that doesn’t mean energy storage is completely straightforward…
As dawn broke on the first day of the 21st century, the fundamental issue the electricity industry had faced since its beginnings remained intact: despite some pioneering attempts to store hydro-electric generation there was no way of storing the bulk of the power that was generated.
Fast forward to 2018 and there’s a budding battery market that has the potential to help the country deliver on climate change commitments.
Potential is the key word, as Western Power Distribution (WPD) Primary System Design Manager Tony Berndes points out:
“The battery energy storage market is still in its infancy for electricity distribution where we are starting to see an increasing number of schemes connect to the network. The fact the market can mature rapidly is evidenced by National Grid’s focus on fast frequency response.
“It’s now becoming clear to everyone involved in this technology that there are emerging markets in place. What’s less clear is the way they are going to develop.”
Read more: Utility Week