Energy storage is transforming the global electric grid and is an increasingly important element of the world’s transition to sustainable energy. However, its full potential is yet to be exploited.

Globally, the market for energy storage is at the very start of its development. The UK is at the forefront of pioneering energy storage but even in the UK, compared to overall demand generation, storage capacity is almost insignificant.

There are two energy storage projects which are widely reported on; in the UK there is the Smarter Network Storage (SNS) project in Leighton Buzzard and in South Australia, there is Tesla’s lithium-ion battery facility. Though they both mark a positive step in this emerging industry, they are still in their infancy.

While positive steps have been taken to encourage energy storage adoption through regulatory policy and market incentives, barriers remain.

How important is energy storage to achieve net zero?

Energy storage is critical to achieving net zero.

Meeting net zero targets will depend on the growth of renewable energy sources such as wind and tidal power and the take-up of electric vehicles and heat pumps. Because the energy generated by renewable sources varies, there is an increasing need for robust energy storage technologies – for both electricity and heat – which can keep energy systems stable and supply reliability. Developing technologies that allow energy to be stored over hours, days and months are essential.

As a result, net zero won’t be achieved without energy storage. This is especially true during the transition to net zero, where different sources of energy generation will be required. However, there are two main barriers currently preventing the full potential of energy storage to be reached: lack of investment and regulation.

For energy storage, and ultimately net zero to be achieved, the below must be gaps must be bridged:

• Re-examine regulatory and market structures to better support and incentivize deployment.

• Invest in digital capabilities to optimize storage.

• Integrate storage into a broader system framework to accelerate the path to net zero.

To learn more about energy storage and achieving net zero, discover our Energy Talks Webinar Series.

What role will standards play in supporting the emerging storage market?

Standards are set to play a very important role in the energy storage market.

There are safety risks in energy storage, as there are with any industrial process, but they can be mitigated and controlled through clear, commonly understood standards and procedures.

Standards are also critical in getting investors on board. If organizations want to see a major infrastructure investment fund put money into this sector, it’s essential that they can be confident that the system is going to be safe, it’s going to be durable, and has got quality certification.

A simple, unified standard across energy storage will provide that reassurance.

The ESL/120 committees has been working towards identifying and developing areas of standardization for energy storage. According to Scott McGregor, Chair of the Committee, standardization is ‘a slow journey…but it’s critically important…There is good support from the UK Government and from other stakeholders who want this to succeed’.

Key net zero standards for your organization

Despite the energy storage market still being in its infancy, there are several key standards businesses can still adopt, to aid them in the transition to net zero.

Used by large and small organizations across the world to manage and reduce energy use and costs, BS EN ISO 50001 is an excellent framework to help implement an energy management system (EnMS). While PAS 2060 can help you cut through the cynicism and doubt and maintain trust in your efforts to manage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Plus, PAS 2060 applies to organizations of all types. This means you can achieve carbon neutrality across all areas, including buildings, transport, manufacturing, product lines, and events.

Also important is BS EN ISO 14001. This standard helps businesses of all sizes across all sectors make their day-to-day operations more sustainable. Sustainability can ultimately save money, improve brand reputation, engage employees and build resilience against uncertainty as well as the ability to rapidly adapt to change.

To kickstart your organization’s journey to net zero, add these key standards to your collection today.

Discover BSI Knowledge

As the pressure builds for all industries to achieve net zero, knowing which standards can help you and how to share their guidance within your organization can seem like a huge challenge. With a BSI Knowledge subscription, you will have the flexibility and visibility to manage the essential standards you need in order to start your journey to net zero with confidence. Build your own custom collection of standards, or opt for access to one of our pre-built modules, such as GBM06 Environment, Wastes, and keep up-to-date with any relevant changes to your standards strategy. Request to learn more.