Data-driven exploration of the carbon emissions impact of grid energy storage deployment and dispatch

This research project focuses on integration of grid energy storage. Specifically, it aims to demonstrate the carbon emissions savings possible by optimally locating and operating storage to avoid curtailment of renewables and additional fossil fuel generation. There is an urgent need for power grids to move away from fossil-fuelled generation to clean sources such as wind, solar and nuclear. Energy storage systems (of various types including batteries, flywheels, compressed air etc.) can provide stability, fault tolerance, voltage support, time shifting of energy and other benefits to power grids, and it is projected that substantial amounts of storage could be required in the UK to meet the country's net-zero targets. However, it is not clear whether the financial and environmental benefits of storage currently align. For example, if storage is placed far from excess renewable generation, on the other side of a congested network, then it may be charged from fossil-fuelled power stations. This project tests two hypotheses, the first that strong carbon emission benefits could result if the location-specific impacts of storage during dispatch are accounted for, and the second that optimal placement of storage within the power network enables accelerated build of clean energy generators. To test these, we will build a model of the GB transmission grid, coupled with a market model, and use this to investigate several scenarios, grouped broadly into two areas: First, what is the emissions performance of existing and soon-to-be-built energy storage, and how could emissions be optimally reduced by dispatching storage differently? Second, how will the emissions performance of the grid evolve over the next 5, 10 and 15 years considering planned generation and storage, planned grid upgrades, and new demand. Ultimately, the project will enable greater grid carbon emissions savings by demonstrating how energy storage may best be sited and controlled to avoid curtailment of renewables and unnecessary use of fossil fuel power stations for ancillary services.