Energy flexibility through distributed thermal storage

 Energy flexibility through distributed thermal storage

TrackEnergy Storage

Distributed energy storage has the potential to play a major role in the transition to a net zero energy grid. However, this space largely been dominated by consideration of electrical energy storage, with concerns raised about the cost, sustainability and environmental impact of deploying such storage at scale. This talk focuses on the role that thermal storage may play as a contributor to UK energy flexibility, with a particular focus on learnings from the current Advanced Distributed Storage for Grid Benefit (ADSorB) programme. Thermal storage has the potential to deliver benefits to stakeholders throughout the chain from generation through to end use. For the end user, there is an opportunity to drastically reduce their energy costs by taking advantage of emerging time of use energy tariffs and flexibility services, in addition to the co-benefits that arise through storage at point of use. At a distribution level, the availability of distributed energy storage opens the possibility of meaningful demand side response services to address constraints on the low voltage network. At grid level, the aggregation of potentially millions of distributed stores has the potential to make a major contribution to overcome demand supply imbalances in an environment where intermittent renewable sources are expected to play a major role. This talk will discuss the advanced thermal storage technologies being developed within the ADSorB programme, and the approaches being developed for maximising their value within domestic energy systems. 

Robert Barthorpe, Senior Lecturer, University of Sheffield, UK