Long Duration Energy Storage and Thermal Energy Storage are key to a successful energy transition. Solar and wind energy are the cheapest and fastest-growing sources of electricity in most world regions. However, intermittent renewables fluctuate and are unavailable on demand, although supply and demand must match at all times in order to guarantee energy security.
Currently, coal and gas power plants are still being used for energy flexibility. In the future, industry and households should be able to access electricity from storage systems when no renewable energy is available. The Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research has calculated that Germany will need storage capacity of up to 71 terawatt hours by 2045 – that would correspond to 15 percent of annual electricity consumption.
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For more information on energy storage, see our latest factsheet on Thermal Energy Storage or on Long Duration Energy Storage.