Explainer: The role of energy storage technologies in the energy transition
Lithium-ion batteries dominate the market, but other technologies are emerging, including sodium-ion, flow batteries and liquid CO2 storage.
Various studies affirm the central role of energy storage, carbon management, small modular reactors, clean hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuels in the global endeavours to reduce carbon emissions and achieve a net zero path.
The net zero emissions path in 2030 will need to see carbon capture to scale to 20x current capacity, energy storage 35x, clean hydrogen 70x, and sustainable aviation fuels 190x. New advanced nuclear reactors will additionally need mass deployment. Such unprecedented capacity growth will need to be supported by an estimated annual investment greater than $500 billion in 2030.
However, while progress is being made, it is significantly lagging. Publicly announced plans currently cover only a fraction of the estimated investment needs. Speed and scale of these advanced solutions` deployment needs to be increased.
The World Economic Forum’s Advanced Energy Solutions community aims to accelerate, from decades to years, the deployment at industrial scale of advanced solutions such as clean fuels and hydrogen, advanced nuclear, storage and carbon removal. It engages leaders in frontier segments of the energy system that drive the energy transition.
The community helps:
- build confidence in advanced energy solutions,
- provide a platform to engage leading innovators with large energy producers, energy consumers and investors,
- address regulation and policy.
Read more.
Contact: Maciej Kolaczkowski, Advanced Energy Solutions, mko@weforum.org
Lithium-ion batteries dominate the market, but other technologies are emerging, including sodium-ion, flow batteries and liquid CO2 storage.
Nuclear energy is experiencing a renaissance but concerns remain around safety and cost. How can advanced energy solutions support the energy transition?
The business case for advanced energy solutions must show how the benefits outweigh higher costs versus legacy solutions, and how to meet those costs.