Energy storage (ES): foresighting report

The study focused principally on a range of electrical energy storage (ES) applications and associated technologies needed for large scale and micro or portable ES (it did not consider the production and storage of conventional fuels). The report aimed to: provide a structured analysis of energy storage (ES) market needs and technology opportunities on which ITI Energy might focus; present conclusions to ITI member companies for their review and input; and catalyse further discussions and development of ES technology development projects and proposals.

The methodology consisted of: desk-top research; workshops; conference visits and networking; one-to-one interviews with storage related stakeholders; and storage-related focus groups. In total, the study contacted more than 100 individuals with industry expertise and experience and 50 companies and organisations across the ES sector.

The report finds that ES is already an established global market and the total ES market has annual sales far in excess of 40 billion dollars and annual growth rates of more than 10 per cent. Despite the relative maturity of certain segments and associated technologies, there are strong prospects for accelerated growth. The three main ES market segments (utility or industrial, transport or mobile, and portable applications) give rise to a diversity of requirements and demands on technology. A range of market drivers will influence the scale and pace of market growth across the three main energy storage segments: political and regulatory developments; energy supply side developments; developments in power delivery systems; and developments in end user systems and end user requirements. Future ES requirements will drive a range of technology developments centred around a number of distinct systems. Although ES technologies are at different stages of maturity, the report finds there is potential for improvements in most of the technology systems.

The report outlines an emerging set of priorities on which ITI Energy should focus, including: battery energy storage; flow cell electrochemical energy storage; compressed air energy storage; high speed kinetic energy storage; hydrogen storage; hydrogen energy conversion technology; electrolytic storage (supercapacitors); and power management. ITI Energy aims to initiate a range of activities to move forward on these priorities, including: further one-to-one discussions with companies and research organisations; workshops or other forums to stimulate proposals of potential research and development (R&D) projects; and scoping and feasibility studies to develop specific proposals.