R&D priorities up to 2025: storage technologies, generation and decarbonization
The world is changing rapidly and the electricity sector is no exception. In order to meet the challenges posed by climate change, air pollution, and other environmental concerns, it is essential that the electricity sector evolves too. This means moving away from traditional generation technologies like coal and gas, and towards cleaner, more sustainable options like renewable energy.
However, the switch to renewable energy is not without its challenges. One of the biggest challenges is that renewable energy sources like wind and solar are intermittent, meaning they only produce electricity when the wind is blowing or the sun is shining. This means that traditional power plants that can dispatch electricity on demand are still needed to provide backup power when renewable energy sources are not available.
Electricity storage is one way to address this challenge. By storing electricity when renewable sources are generating it, and then releasing it when it is needed, electricity storage can help to ensure a more reliable and sustainable supply of electricity.
There are many different types of electricity storage technologies currently under development, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. In order to prioritize research and development (R&D) efforts, it is essential to identify which storage technologies have the greatest potential to address the challenges facing the electricity sector.
Research priorities for electricity storage technologies
In order to prioritize R&D efforts, eight criteria were used to evaluate the potential of different electricity storage technologies:
- Technical feasibility: Is the technology currently capable of being deployed at scale?
- Economic viability: Is the technology economically viable, meaning it can be deployed at a cost that is competitive with other generation technologies?
- Environmental impact: What is the technology’s impact on the environment?
- Social acceptability: Is the technology socially acceptable, meaning it has public support and is not likely to encounter significant public opposition?
- Regulatory barriers: Are there any regulatory barriers that could prevent the technology from being deployed?
- Grid integration: How well does the technology integrate with the existing electricity grid?
- Flexibility: How flexible is the technology, meaning how easily can it be adapted to different applications and conditions?
- scalability: Is the technology scalable, meaning it can be deployed at a large enough scale to meet the needs of the electricity sector?
Based on these criteria, four storage technologies were identified as having the greatest potential to address the challenges facing the electricity sector:
- Pumped hydroelectric storage
- Compressed air energy storage
- Lithium-ion batteries
- Flow batteries
Pumped hydroelectric storage is the most technically feasible and economically viable option, but it also has the potential to have a significant environmental impact. Compressed air energy storage is less technically feasible and economically viable than pumped hydroelectric storage, but it has a lower environmental impact. Lithium-ion batteries are technically feasible and have a low environmental impact, but they are not yet economically viable. Flow batteries are technically feasible and have a low environmental impact, but they are not yet commercially available.
Recommendations for R&D priorities
Based on the criteria used to evaluate the potential of different electricity storage technologies, it is recommended that R&D efforts should focus on:
- Increasing the technical feasibility of compressed air energy storage
- Decreasing the cost of lithium-ion batteries
- Developing new flow battery technologies
Compressed air energy storage has the potential to be a low-cost, environmentally friendly option for electricity storage, but it is not yet commercially available. Increasing the technical feasibility of compressed air energy storage should be a priority for R&D efforts.
Lithium-ion batteries are technically feasible and have a low environmental impact, but they are not yet economically viable. decreasing the cost of lithium-ion batteries should be a priority for R&D efforts.
Flow batteries are technically feasible and have a low environmental impact, but they are not yet commercially available. Developing new flow battery technologies should be a priority for R&D efforts.
Research priorities for generation technologies
In order to prioritize R&D efforts, eight criteria were used to evaluate the potential of different electricity generation technologies:
- Technical feasibility: Is the technology currently capable of being deployed at scale?
- Economic viability: Is the technology economically viable, meaning it can be deployed at a cost that is competitive with other generation technologies?
- Environmental impact: What is the technology’s impact on the environment?
- Social acceptability: Is the technology socially acceptable, meaning it has public support and is not likely to encounter significant public opposition?
- Regulatory barriers: Are there any regulatory barriers that could prevent the technology from being deployed?
- Intermittency: How intermittent is the technology, meaning how often does it need to be turned off and on?
- Flexibility: How flexible is the technology, meaning how easily can it be adapted to different applications and conditions?
- Scalability: Is the technology scalable, meaning it can be deployed at a large enough scale to meet the needs of the electricity sector?
Based on these criteria, four generation technologies were identified as having the greatest potential to address the challenges facing the electricity sector:
- Wind power
- Solar photovoltaics
- Nuclear power
- Carbon capture and storage
Wind power is the most technically feasible and economically viable option, but it has a relatively high environmental impact. Solar photovoltaics are less technically feasible and economically viable than wind power, but they have a lower environmental impact. Nuclear power is technically feasible and has a low environmental impact, but it is not yet economically viable. Carbon capture and storage is technically feasible and potentially economically viable, but it is not yet commercially available.
Recommendations for R&D priorities
Based on the criteria used to evaluate the potential of different electricity generation technologies, it is recommended that R&D efforts should focus on:
- Increasing the technical feasibility of solar photovoltaics
- Decreasing the cost of nuclear power
- Developing carbon capture and storage technologies
Solar photovoltaics are less technically feasible and economically viable than wind power, but they have a lower environmental impact. Increasing the technical feasibility of solar photovoltaics should be a priority for R&D efforts.
Nuclear power is technically feasible and has a low environmental impact, but it is not yet economically viable. Decreasing the cost of nuclear power should be a priority for R&D efforts.
Carbon capture and storage is technically feasible and potentially economically viable, but it is not yet commercially available. Developing carbon capture and storage technologies should be a priority for R&D efforts.
Research priorities for decarbonization technologies
In order to prioritize R&D efforts, eight criteria were used to evaluate the potential of different decarbonization technologies:
- Technical feasibility: Is the technology currently capable of being deployed at scale?
- Economic viability: Is the technology economically viable, meaning it can be deployed at a cost that is competitive with other generation technologies?
- Environmental impact: What is the technology’s impact on the environment?
- Social acceptability: Is the technology socially acceptable, meaning it has public support and is not likely to encounter significant public opposition?
- Regulatory barriers: Are there any regulatory barriers that could prevent the technology from being deployed?
- Intermittency: How intermittent is the technology, meaning how often does it need to be turned off and on?
- Flexibility: How flexible is the technology, meaning how easily can it be adapted to different applications and conditions?
- Scalability: Is the technology scalable, meaning it can be deployed at a large enough scale to meet the needs of the electricity sector?
Recommendations for R&D priorities
Based on these criteria, four decarbonization technologies were identified as having the greatest potential to address the challenges facing the electricity sector:
- Carbon capture and storage
- Electric vehicles
- Nuclear power
- Renewable energy
Carbon capture and storage are technically feasible, economically viable, and has a low environmental impact. Electric vehicles are technically feasible and have a low environmental impact, but they are not yet economically viable. Nuclear power is technically feasible and has a low environmental impact, but it is not yet economically viable. Renewable energy is technically feasible and economically viable, but it has a higher environmental impact than other technologies.
Given the urgency of the climate change problem, it is recommended that R&D efforts should focus on carbon capture and storage, electric vehicles, and nuclear power. These three technologies have the greatest potential to decarbonize the electricity sector in the short term. In the long term, renewable energy will become increasingly important as costs continue to decline and public support grows.