European project networks energy storage research

An energy supply system that runs on renewable energies requires storage that can flexibly provide electricity or other forms of energy even during calm or cloudy weather. In the four-year research project Storage Research Infrastructure Eco-System (StoRIES), science and industry have addressed this topic.

The project, coordinated by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), dealt with, among other things, the question of which storage technology is best suited to compensate for the fluctuating availability of renewable energies. However, it became clear that there is no universal storage technology that meets all requirements.

“Only the intelligent combination of different storage systems enables an energy system that is flexible, stable, and climate-neutral at the same time,” said Myriam E. Gil Bardají, deputy project coordinator at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). “Our results show which technologies need to work together for this and where further research and development is needed in Europe.”

A battery storage system is suitable for the power grid because it enables rapid load changes, according to KIT. Thermal storage is suitable for industrial processes, and hydrogen is ultimately a way to store energy long-term. Based on these findings, a technology roadmap and a strategic research and innovation agenda for hybrid energy storage systems were created.

Efficiently continue to use existing infrastructures

“The energy transition needs solutions that can be adapted to very different applications,” says Olga Sumińska-Ebersoldt, one of the initiators of StoRIES. “Our case studies show that hybrid storage not only offers technical advantages but can also help to efficiently continue to use existing infrastructures and better integrate renewable energies into everyday life.”

Concepts were investigated for, among other things, the electrification of ports and heavy-duty transport, the supply of remote regions with renewable energy, and the reuse of fossil power plant sites as storage and flexibility centers. In addition, the researchers developed combined storage approaches for buildings and industry to couple electricity, heat, and hydrogen.

In the project, research infrastructures, industry, and scientific institutions across Europe networked and created new structures for energy storage research throughout Europe. This resulted in a Europe-wide network of 250 research institutions, specialized laboratories, and test environments.

“StoRIES has shown how European research collaborations can make concrete contributions to energy and climate policy,” says Holger Ihssen from the Brussels office of the Helmholtz Association, who coordinated cooperation with European institutions and networks as well as international networking in the project. “The networks, strategies, and training formats created in the project have an impact far beyond their duration and strengthen Europe's innovative capacity regarding sustainable energy systems.”

(wpl)