In parliament last week, it was stated that the UK will need 20 million mini power stations to be able to achieve its energy goal of net zero emissions by 2050. As well as outlining that it is paramount that creating policy framework for technologies such as, battery energy storage and solar power, is made a priority.
The UK needing 20 million mini power stations, came from Dr Andrew Crossland, an engineer with the MCS’ Battery Installation Standard division. Who also explained that solar equipment sales growth was largely helped by commoditisation, which battery storage systems is far from the same level of achieving. This could help in increasing the opportunities being made to battery sites, through energy trading and selling power back to the grid could be made available.
The need for more smaller, quicker to react power stations was also heard from both Ofgem and Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Who both in an open letter to the Energy Networks Association (ENA), described flexibility as ‘crucial’ to the evolution of energy networks.
Flexible energy storage is rightly seen to be a vital element of our future power systems. Working alongside renewable generation will help make us cleaner, and help get the UK closer to net-zero by 2050.