Abu Dhabi: An estimated 150GW (gigawatt) of battery storage and 325GW of pumped-storage hydroelectricity will be needed to double the share of renewables in the electricity sector by 2030, according to a new report published recently by the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena).
Pumped-storage hydroelectricity is a type of hydroelectric energy storage used by electric power systems for load balancing.
Storage will be a vital element in the expansion of renewable energy, said the report that provides a clear direction on how to advance storage systems as part of the infrastructure for a sustainable energy future.
‘Renewables and Electricity Storage’ released on the sidelines of Irena’s ninth council meeting in Abu Dhabi held recently, prioritises 14 items for action across five priority areas where governments and industry can work together to facilitate the development of policies on electricity storage for renewables. The report is part of Irena’s REmap 2030 programme.
To avoid the worst effects of climate change and accelerate sustainable energy transformation and economic growth, Irena’s REmap 2030 report finds the share of renewables in the electricity sector must double to 45 per cent by 2030.
“Now is the time to think about integrating large-scale battery storage into the global energy system,” said Irena Director-General Adnan Z. Ameen. “This roadmap is a starting point for all policy makers seeking to integrate greater storage capabilities, which is necessary to ensure the world is ready for the next phase of growth for renewable power systems.”
The five priority areas identified include electricity storage to support renewables in islands and remote areas, consumer-located storage for self-consumption in countries with high shares of rooftop solar PV (photovoltaic) systems, generator and grid-located storage for countries with grid infrastructure constraints and system analysis tools for countries preparing to transition their power sector towards renewables.
The roadmap is the product of four stakeholder workshops involving more than 200 electricity storage experts from 50 countries.
Chairperson of the Global Energy Storage Alliance Janice Lin said: “The value of this roadmap is that it brought together policy makers from across the globe with the leading industry experts and academics. At every workshop, we were asked to prioritise and refine our assessments. The roadmap is truly a product of international cooperation.”
