In this contributed blog, then Levy, planning manager at Balance Power, looks at Earth Day and how well-functioning developments in the field of battery energy storage require its environmental goals.
This Earth Day will gather millions of people worldwide behind a drive to triple the global generation of clean electricity by 2030. This year’s theme, entitled Our strength, our planet, Could not be timely. In an era characterized by a slow economic growth and rising costs of living, public and political attention shifts to solutions that not only offer environmental earth, but clearly economic returns.
Renewable energy is now as a compelling answer to both challenges. Governments around the world are increasingly convinced of its benefits, but converting dedication into action entails complications. Expansion of renewable capacity to scale means overcoming important practical challenges such as aging grid systems, intermittent power generation and policy bottlenecks.
So how do we continue? How can we ensure that the development of renewable energy delivers the best value for the climate and the most “bang” for the money of the public?
The essential role of Bess
A dramatic increase in the capacity of Global Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is not an accessory for net zero efforts but a vital component. As more renewable energy enters the grid, technology must be present to balance and distribute the intermittent power by clean sources such as wind and solar energy.
By storing electricity when there is more generation than consumption and giving it back to the grid when there is a shortage, Bess projects ensure a consistent, reliable energy supply. They can also lower the electricity costs and improve the overall efficiency of the system by enabling raster operators to move energy consumption from peak hours to off -peak hours.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that the global battery storage capacity should increase six -fold in 2030 if the COP28 goals for climate change, signed by nearly 200 countries, should be achieved. Although global growth in Bess capacity almost all other clean energy technologies has been surpassed in recent years and in 2024 grew by 1.5 GW in the UK, there is still a need for enormous acceleration. The growth rate in 2024 was 28% lower than the previous year; Far away from the almost exponential increase in capacity that is required.
Is this feasible?
Whether the national and global Bess capacity is growing with the required rate will be determined by various factors, including fluctuations in project costs, private and public support and macro trends in energy consumption worldwide. Perhaps the most important thing is how governments deal with Bess development through legislation. The IEA recommends that governments financially stimulate the development of energy storage on Grid scale and charge them in their long-term planning in the field of energy.
There must be a regulatory environment that is so friendly to the development of BESs and global supply chains of critical minerals must be diversified and strengthened. The last point is particularly striking because the rise in other developments in the field of clean energy, such as electric vehicles, although undoubtedly led a positive step to increasing competition and rising prices of important minerals involved in the production of batteries, such as lithium.
It is crucial to achieve the required pace of rollout, critical mass of governments all over the world’s skills, resources and knowledge to achieve shared goals. There are also steps that countries can take unilateral to improve their own domestic energy storage capacity. The upcoming British legislation, such as the planning and infrastructure account, aimed at streamlining the rollout of clean energy projects, has been welcomed by those in the development industry. Likewise, the recently approved reform of the grid connections of the National Energy System Operator (NESO), which means that significant clean energy developments can be jumped to lay “zombie” projects, is another fantastic example of the power of legislation in action.
The success of the efforts of the British government will depend on the constant involvement in renewable developers and the ability of the developers to take advantage of the possibilities that may be offered.
The impact of Bess on economic growth
The growth of global Bess capacity is tailored to the growth of national economies. This is especially the case if they are married to solar projects. A recent report from Solar Energy UK predicted that the sectors of the solar and energy storage is expected to triple their annual contribution to the economy by 2035, which adds £ 5.1 billion to public finances and the employment of more than 40,000 people. As the UK struggles to achieve economic growth and the increasing gloom with regard to the financial future of the country is settling, broadcasting the positive potential impact of these projects has never been so important.
These economic benefits can be further encouraged by bringing together solar and BES projects on site with industries that have intensive energy requirements. With this approach, known as a generation behind the meter, companies in industries such as production, refining and data can generate and store their own clean energy via customized facilities on the site. Of course this will help these organizations achieve their carbon goals and to stimulate the regional economy through the development of the projects.
Perhaps even more important than this, such developments will remove the dependence on companies of the National Net, which will protect them against rising industrial energy costs, which the UK is currently in price in price. By reducing these energy costs and protecting against further increases, companies will free up more operational capital for other roads for investments and business development. As the UK wants to stimulate economic growth, such schemes that increase industrial profitability, innovation and investments can be a significant part of a broader national growth strategy.
The path for us
The recent growth of global and national capacity is encouraging, and legislation in the UK suggests that a government is committed to speeding up the development of renewable energy. If his commitments are maintained and the approach remains reliable, a climate that is very attractive for investors of renewable energy will continue to arise. The success of recent and upcoming legislative efforts, if full advantage, will also build trust in the ability of the government to achieve real change in space. Such trust will be vital, because the policy of the development of renewable energy continues to adapt to an ever -changing political and economic landscape.
While organizations, governments and the public think about the theme of this Earth Day, there is a binding interest that can all unite them in shared action. The development of a cleaner, cheaper and more resilient energy system benefits everyone. If these benefits can be communicated correctly and the resulting support effectively mobilized, there is nothing to stop with energy storage that occupies its legitimate place as the lynchpin of the net zero progress in the world. The future of the power of our planet may literally depend on it.
