Q&A: What is ‘long-duration energy storage’ – and why does the UK need it?
The UK is investing in long-duration energy storage (LDES) to manage renewable energy intermittency. These technologies aim to store power for days or weeks to ensure grid stability during periods of low wind and solar output.
Why it matters
LDES is critical for the UK's transition to net-zero, potentially saving billions in energy system costs by reducing reliance on fossil fuel backups.
Share The UK is pioneering the use of “ super batteries ” that can store energy for long periods, smoothing the output from wind and solar power as the country moves towards net-zero.
It is aiming to build “long-duration energy storage” (LDES) that fills up when supplies are plentiful, to help cover the gaps when the wind does not blow and the sun does not shine.
These periods can last for days or even weeks – sometimes referred to as “ dunkelflaute ”, a German word meaning “dark doldrums” – whereas the current batteries on the electricity system only last a matter of hours.
The nation’s energy regulator Ofgem has now identified 16 LDES projects that it is “minded to” support under a new “ cap-and-floor scheme ”.
The technologies selected can be used to store energy for long periods in the form of gravity, chemical processes or electrical charge.
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