Research Report on Energy Storage Archetypes: Without Storage of Electricity, Heat, and Molecules, There Can Be No Energy Transition

Research by Rebel commissioned by the Energy Storage Collaboration Program shows that energy storage is an indispensable link in the energy system and that all forms of energy—heat, hydrogen, and electricity—are equally essential for a future energy system.

Nine archetypes of storage play a crucial role in the energy system

The report categorizes energy storage into nine archetypes across three energy carriers: electricity, heat, and molecules. The goal is to provide guidance for market participants and policymakers in clear, common language. It is clear that all archetypes are necessary because they typically fulfill different roles in the energy system. For example, electricity storage is generally best suited for optimization, balancing, and congestion services on the grid. Heat, on the other hand, is important for optimization and seasonal storage. Molecules are ideally suited for strategic reserves or seasonal storage. The figure below provides insight into the roles of the archetypes.

Challenges and the Future of Storage

The study draws some interesting conclusions. There is a gap between the system value of storage and the business case. In particular, the significant societal value of multi-day and seasonal storage is not sufficiently recognized. Furthermore, it is difficult to compete with low-cost fossil fuel-based flexibility. It is therefore important to develop a national vision for storage that goes beyond battery storage alone. An important nuance: while the archetypes fulfill a typical role, thermal and molecular storage in particular are suitable for more applications than are currently shown in the diagram. Moreover, there are also electrical storage technologies capable of providing long-duration storage.

The study also presents its own categorization of the forecasts from the research firm Rebel, based on the scenarios developed by Netbeheer Nederland. Within this model, the grid operator’s forecasts can be viewed by technology, year, and province (see the appendix to the report).

Invest in the social value of storage early on

The report conveys an important message, one that ESNL is pleased to endorse: energy storage is not a temporary solution but a structural component of the future energy system. Without targeted policy, there is a risk of underinvestment in precisely those forms of storage that deliver the greatest societal value. By clearly explaining the key functions of storage, as well as the challenges and opportunities within the storage landscape, the study “Archetypes of Energy Storage” provides important starting points for investing in a future with sufficient storage capacity for electricity, heat, and molecules.