The role of Funafuti s new energy storage box

Through this new FSPV system 174.2 megawatts per hour of electricity will be generated each year, meeting two percent of Funafuti's annual energy demand. This innovative clean energy source will reduce the country's reliance on diesel-powered energy generation by 47,100 litres per year – a saving of approximately US$68,000.

seeing 184 solar panels positioned on Tafua Pond in Funafuti will reduce the country's reliance on diesel-powered energy generation by 47,100 litres per year. Photo: Supplied.

Storage technologies are a promising option to provide the power system with the flexibility required when intermittent renewables are present in the electricity generation mix. This paper focuses on the role of electricity storage in energy systems with high shares of renewable sources.

The power sector needs to ensure a rapid transition towards a low-carbon energy system to avoid the dangerous consequences of greenhouse gas emissions. Storage technologies are a promising option to provide the power system with the flexibility required when intermittent renewables are present in the electricity generation mix.

Future energy systems require more storage facilities to balance the higher share of intermittent renewables in the upcoming power generation mix (Benato and Stoppato, 2018), especially as the demand for electric power could push capacity to 7200 GW by 2040 (International Energy Agency, 2014).

The sensitivity to storage capacity uptake shows little variations from Ref.0. As clean energy targets are imposed (in u r b s − M X), and renewables perform economically better over time (in M U S E), there is a growing RES uptake. In Ref.1, the presence of storage favours generation with natural gas because of its competitive production costs.