Achieving an increasingly important role for electrical energy storage is one of the keys to transforming the electricity production system, but why?

Making electrical energy storage more efficient and cheaper could revolutionize how we produce and consume energy in our daily lives, but why? If you’re reading this, it’s probably because you’ve come across…any newsThis announcement reveals that a particular country or company has strengthened its electricity storage capacity. Energy storage is one of the major trends in the energy sector in recent years, and for good reason. Imagine a system that allows for the storage of all surplus energy generation and makes it available to the market when needed; something very common in other markets, but, due to technological and cost considerations, a rarity in this sector.

Perhaps the first thing we should define is what electrical energy storage is and how it works. By its very nature, energy is a constantly moving force; this means that achieving its storage, through various methods, has been a constant struggle since the dawn of humanity. From watermills that harnessed the power of impounded water to operate machinery for grinding grain, to the advanced dams that allow us to drive turbines and generate electricity, human beings have sought to harness the release of energy to fulfill our productive goals. This desire, with the discovery and exploitation of electrical energy (19th century), became an obsession that continues to this day.

While we initially understood that burning certain materials like wood, coal, or oil allowed us to release energy that could be transformed into electricity, thus facilitating its consumption based on our specific needs and allowing its “physical storage,” the very complexity of electrical energy has taught us that this method is nothing more than a workaround. Unlike this type of energy, used in the first industrial revolution, electricity flows through a closed circuit designed for one purpose: its consumption. If we think aboutHow does electricity work from the moment it is generated until it reaches our homes?The “roads” through which it flows, with an enormous level of technological sophistication, allow its transport and distribution, but not its storage.

This means that, at times, there are peak electricity demands that cannot be met due to insufficient generation capacity. It is also common for there to be a generation surplus that is lost because there is insufficient demand at that moment. This is why, as our societies have evolved, and with them our electricity consumption, we have come to understand that electrical energy storage is absolutely crucial for achieving several goals, such as energy efficiency, combating climate change, and definitively boosting renewable energy.

Electrical energy storage: a “battery” for sustainability

Imagine a hillside covered in wind turbines operating at full capacity, or a field several hectares in size equipped with photovoltaic panels. In our collective imagination, this might seem like the ultimate solution to the pollution problems caused by our continuous exploitation and burning of fossil fuels to produce electricity. While this may be true to some extent, it’s not entirely accurate. As we explained earlier, electrical energy cannot be “domesticated” in the same way. Renewable energies depend on climatic conditions to generate energy for our consumption (wind, solar radiation, etc.), and these conditions may not always coincide with the demand of end users, creating periods of low generation or low demand.

In contrast, there are electricity generation technologies, such as nuclear power, whose production is not dependent but absolutely continuous. For technical and economic reasons, a nuclear power plant cannot be switched on or off according to our needs; instead, it requires the constant and controlled release of energy. This has led to nuclear power plants serving as the “batteries” for some electrical systems in our region, as is the case in France. However, in addition to the potential ethical implications, the underlying problem mentioned earlier also arises: sometimes a significant portion of the energy generated is not used because it is not demanded by the market.

All these situations have led our societies to face a major challenge that also holds great promise: the storage of electrical energy. This solution could significantly reduce the climate consequences of wasted electricity, fostering a more efficient and flexible grid for the end user.

Implementing electrical storage systems would allow for the ultimate expansion of renewable energy, enabling us to store surplus energy for use on days when weather conditions prevent stable power generation. Furthermore, this would eliminate the role of fossil fuels as an “energy reserve” for peak demand periods, when thermal power plants act as “batteries” for our electrical grid; something far removed from asociety in total pursuit of sustainability and green energyOn the other hand, it is also worth highlighting the enormous boost this would give to the democratization of electric vehicles, which would find in electrical energy storage a key ally to have a stable energy supply for their normal operation.

But what is preventing the expansion of electrical storage?

If there’s one word that’s constantly repeated in our societies, it’s “market.” And while innovative technologies may exist or have existed, if they aren’t competitive, they can’t become true drivers of transformation; and electrical storage is no exception. This has been due to the high material and production costs of the key ingredient in this technological revolution: lithium. This material, whose properties make it the focus of attention in the energy sector, is also expensive, which has, until now, prevented its full adoption.

But this situation is not permanent. Studies such as the one published byBloombergNEF (BNEF)The report estimates that battery costs will be reduced by up to half by 2030, directly impacting both electrical storage and the rise of electric vehicles. Thus, with greater competitiveness and reduced costs, the democratization of this technology finds real hope. Now, it remains to be seen how far this revolution will go. Time will tell its success.