Operational electrochemical storage power capacity in the EU 2020, by country

The United Kingdom has the highest power capacity of operational electrochemical storage facilities in European countries, at 570 megawatts. With the UK formally leaving the European Union in January 2020, Germany is currently the EU member state with the highest operational electrochemical storage power capacity, at 406 megawatts. On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, the U.S. battery storage power capacity amounted to 868 megawatts in 2018.

What makes battery storage tech so important?

Electricity generation and consumption are not always in perfectly harmony, it being very common to see fluctuations on the electricity grid due to varied demand and supply. In order to secure a balanced generation and consumption flow in the grid, the ability to store excess power is paramount. This technology is especially important as the EU ratified its Green Deal and is looking to make a transition to clean energy. Some of the more widely used renewable sources such as wind and solar are variable renewable energy. They are non-controllable as they depend on weather phenomena and as such their usage may not always be constant.

Lithium-ion batteries represent the majority of electrochemical storage projects. Li-Ion batteries have a high energy density and low self-discharge combined with no memory effect, resulting in them holding full charge for a longer period of time compared to other technologies. Additionally, Li-ion batteries have a high cycle efficiency. Worldwide lithium supply is expected to climb to 814,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent by 2025.

High construction costs and limited access to the grid are some of the challenges concerning energy storage today. Furthermore, recycling options for used up materials should be discussed alongside the implementation of electrochemical storages.