In research there is evolution, revolution and sometimes, what I call “retro revolution,” which happens when old methods have new applications. All three are in play in the world of electricity, and they are having an extraordinary effect on energy storage.

The inability to store electricity has been a challenge since the time of Thomas Edison. Electricity is made and used in real time, putting huge pressure on utilities at particular times of the day. For much of the East Coast in summer, for example, the peak is in the evening, when people come home from work or play, crank up the air conditioning, flip on the lights, the TV and start cooking. In many cities, the subways operate at peak and the electricity supply is stretched.

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Some utilities may think that it will be up to a decade before there is a mass market uptake of battery storage, and the chair of the Australian Energy Market Operator may even try to convince themselves that the technology won’t be commercial for another two decades, but they might be kidding themselves: New research suggests that the cross-over point between the value of solar and storage and grid prices for Australian households may occur within one year.

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Chemists at the University of Waterloo have developed a long-lasting zinc-ion battery that costs half the price of current lithium-ion batteries and could help enable communities to shift away from traditional power plants and into renewable solar and wind energy production.

In research there is evolution, revolution and — sometimes — what I call “retro revolution,” which happens when old methods have new applications. All three are in play in the world of electricity, and are affecting storage.

The inability to store electricity has been a challenge since the time of Thomas Edison. Electricity is made and used in real time, putting huge pressure on utilities at particular times of the day. For much of the East Coast in summer, for example, the peak is in the evening, when people come home from work or play, crank up the air conditioning, flip on the lights, the TV and start cooking. In many cities, the subways operate at peak and the electricity supply is stretched.

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The UK’s energy system entered a new era on Friday with the announcement that eight huge battery systems will be used to help the country’s power grid cope with the influx of wind and solar power.

Germany’s Eon and France’s EDF are among the energy companies to win the first four-year National Grid contracts to supply split-second power to the electricity system in a £66m deal that analysts said was the largest of its kind in Europe.

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The outcome of the National Grid auction for Enhanced Frequency Response (EFR) services has today been welcomed by the REA. Through the auction, the National Grid will have a capacity that will help them balance the nation’s, sometimes under stress, electricity system.

This outcome shows that new and low carbon flexible technologies can provide services traditionally provided by large, conventional plants. This kind of technical capacity has traditionally been provided by fossil fuel generation, and it enables the integration of more renewable energy, decarbonising the grid in line with the UK’s legally binding carbon targets.

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Businesses across East Yorkshire say they have seen improved profitability, a reduction in carbon footprint and lower overhead costs, thanks to renewable energy solutions from Beverley-based Boston Renewables.

Part of the Bostonair Group, Boston Renewables, specialises in the design, planning, installation and maintenance of renewable energy and energy efficiency developments including solar PV, onshore wind turbines, voltage optimisation, energy storage, solar carports and electric vehicle chargers.

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National Grid has awarded seven firms including Vattenfall, Low Carbon and EDF Energy Renewables four-year contracts to provide balancing services to the network in the UK’s first 200MW Enhanced Frequency Response (EFR) auction.

The EFR tender was developed to bring forward new technologies that support the decarbonisation of the energy industry. E.ON UK, Element Power, RES and Belectric complete the list of successful applicants – of which half of the contracts will use battery storage technology to provide a fast response solution to system volatility.

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A powerful new material developed by Northwestern University chemist William Dichtel and his research team could one day speed up the charging process of electric cars and help increase their driving range.

An electric car currently relies on a complex interplay of both batteries and supercapacitors to provide the energy it needs to go places, but that could change.

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National Grid has awarded eight contracts to energy storage providers in the UK.

The winners – EDF Energy Renewables, Vattenfall, E.ON, Low Carbon, Element Power, RES and Beletric – will provide a total of 201MW of capacity.

They were chosen under National Grid’s inaugural Enhanced Frequency Response service tender, aimed at helping balance the power grid when it is under stress.

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