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CenSES annual report 2014
32
Dissemination
Energy storage in future energy systems
At the end of October, CEDREN and CenSES in collaboration
with the Research Council and European Energy Research
Alliance arranged a joint seminar on energy storage. Topics
discussed were various storage technologies and require-
ments of future energy systems. Over 30 representatives
from the energy industry attended to discuss status and
prospects for these technologies.
CEDREN and CenSES both work with energy system
analyses, albeit from slightly di erent angles. Through their
work with scenario modeling and consequence studies,
they also saw the need for increased focus on energy
storage. The seminar topic was chosen based on suggestions
from user partners, and the aim was to provide an overview
over opportunities and challenges with respect to the part
energy storages will play in future energy systems.
CenSES director Asgeir Tomasgard presented examples for
challenges Europe faces under various energy and climate
political scenarios, emphasizing the need for exibility
caused by increased renewable energy production.
CEDREN director Atle Harby followed up with an overview
over technologies for mechanical storage.
”The di erent storage technologies ywheel, pressurized
air, exible hydropower, and storage pumping play
di erent roles as they provide energy storage on di erent
time scales. Today, adjustable hydropower and storage
pumping represent the only large-scale storage technology
which is competitive and will play a central role many
decades ahead”.
Norway is fortunate since we also have a large amount of
natural gas at our disposal which, similar to hydropower,
is a great source of exibility. Kjetil Midthun from CenSES /
SINTEF presented viewpoints on this, with particular
emphasis on the energy stored in gas export infrastructure.
Other topics also discussed on the seminar were CCS and
fossil energy sources, Norwegian hydropower, usage of
hydrogen and a number of storage technologies, from
large-scale battery technology to geothermic energy
storage.
Energy storage in future energy systems seminar