Energy storage’s role in greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction is complex and context-dependent, with outcomes determined by grid dynamics and energy market structures.
Key mechanisms for emissions reduction
- Renewable integration: Storage enables greater use of variable renewables (solar/wind) by storing excess generation for later use, reducing reliance on fossil fuel “peaker” plants.
- Low-emission charging: When storage charges during periods of surplus renewable generation or low grid emissions intensity, it directly displaces fossil fuel use.
- Avoided infrastructure: Storage can defer investments in new fossil fuel plants and transmission lines, locking in cleaner energy portfolios.
Quantitative impacts
- Transformational potential: ERCOT’s 1,540 MW of operational storage reduces emissions by ~97,020 tCO₂e annually, with 38.2 GW in development potentially avoiding 2.4 million tCO₂e/year.
- Historical progress: Grid-scale storage shifted from causing +6.9 kg CO₂/kWh (2018) to delivering -9.8 kg CO₂/kWh through optimized renewable pairing.
Risks and limitations
- Fossil fuel reinforcement: In markets like PJM, storage can inadvertently prioritize cheaper coal-fired generation over cleaner natural gas due to price arbitrage, increasing emissions.
- Dispatch timing dependency: Emissions outcomes hinge on when storage charges/discharges, requiring real-time marginal emissions data for optimization.
Effective emission reduction requires deliberate policy frameworks and market designs that prioritize renewable integration over fossil fuel price optimization.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/what-role-does-energy-storage-play-in-reducing-greenhouse-gas-emissions-3/
