The House of Lords Science and Technology
Committee is conducting an inquiry into long-duration
energy storage as part of a net zero grid.
The Government has set a target for a fully decarbonised
electricity system by 2035 and Net Zero across the whole of the
UK by 2050. This will require a large increase in variable
renewable electricity generation from wind and solar and a
substantial increase in electricity demand as the heat and
transport sectors are electrified to remove dependence on fossil
fuels. Due to mismatches in supply and demand, the UK will also
likely need substantial investment in a range of different
technologies that can store energy across days, weeks, months and
years.
The Committee’s inquiry will take evidence on these issues and
seek to establish whether the Government has sufficient policies
in place to support medium- and long-duration energy storage and
whether it is on track to deliver this crucial component of a net
zero energy system.
, Chair of the
Committee said:
“The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee is
conducting an inquiry into long-duration energy storage
technologies and the role they have to play in a net zero
electricity grid.
“Deploying large-scale long-duration energy storage
infrastructure will require significant investment and skilled
engineering capacity, but the case for private investment is
uncertain at present. Estimates for how much storage will be
needed depend on a range of factors and assumptions around future
electricity supply and demand. There may be non-financial
challenges to building the infrastructure necessary to store and
transport energy around the country.
“The Committee will be taking evidence on these issues and
will seek to establish whether the Government has sufficient
policies in place to support medium- and long-duration energy
storage and whether it is on track to deliver this crucial
component of a net zero energy system.
“We would encourage anyone with expertise in or experience of
these matters to submit written evidence by 11 September.”
The Committee seeks to understand:
- The amount of medium- and long-duration energy storage needed
to reach the Government’s targets.
- The future balance of supply and demand on the grid. For
example, the possible roles of nuclear power, demand-side
management, or interconnectors to reduce the need for storage.
- The role and readiness of different technologies for long and
medium-duration energy storage.
- Policies currently in place to support deployment of storage
and whether they are sufficient to support deployment at scale
- The non-financial barriers to the deployment of large-scale
energy storage, such as skills, infrastructure, or safety
concerns
The Committee invites written contributions to its
inquiry by Monday 11 September 2023.
Read the call for
evidence and find out how to make a submission.
