Maybe RES Do Not Need Energy Storage!

Renewable Energy Sources have the largest part in the electrical power that is installed each year around the world.

Renewable Energy Sources have the largest part in the electrical power that is installed each year around the world.

In the US, the plan for clean energy (US Clean Power Plan) provides that 28% of electricity will come from renewables by 2030 in all States.

California has set a target of 30%. In Germany, the RES reach 28%, while on July 25, 2015 about eight out of ten Kilowatt-hours that were consumed, came from wind and solar power plants and other technologies.

Several months ago, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) presented a roadmap to develop storage solutions with the report ‘Renewables and Electricity Storage’.

The IRENA takes the view that the RES in electricity production must be doubled to 45% by 2030 to prevent global warming. Also, such an increase can be leveraged "green" development in a low carbon economy.

In terms of power 150 megawatts of stored energy and 325 gigawatt of pumped storage will be required.

However, two recent German studies in which the University of Aachen participates say that things are not exactly so.

The two studies that were completed in 2014 argue that very little or no development of new energy storage infrastructure is required for the operation of a network that is powered entirely by renewable energy.

The first of the two studies that was carried out on behalf of the organization Agora Energiewende argues that no additional storage infrastructure is required in Germany with the exception of 5.4 gigawatts in 15 pumped storage units that are already in operation, even if the share of RES reached 60% by 2030 in the northern country and 40% in the rest of Europe.

The second study concludes that new storage solutions are not a necessary condition for the installation of new solar and wind farms.

Both studies say that the extension of national and European networks is necessary and highlight the need for smart demand management and finding alternative cheaper solutions to ensure the smooth running of a network, which is based on Renewable Energy Sources.

Sources: intelligentutility