Worldwide grid-scale battery electricity storage system capacity was 55.7GW in 2023
Energy storage provides the flexibility to supply energy when needed, using various forms such as chemical, kinetic, thermal, and gravitational potential. The choice of storage depends on location and reserve service, as different technologies offer varying capacities and durations. Traditional fuel storage has long been common, but integrating intermittent renewable sources necessitates energy storage for a resilient, low-carbon network. Strategically placed storage can prevent costly network upgrades and enhance grid security through interconnection. Applications range from small-scale systems in homes to utility-scale storage. Examples include lithium-ion batteries, pumped hydroelectric storage, and ice storage tanks. Surplus renewable electricity can produce hydrogen for long-term storage, and electric vehicles can also serve as storage systems. As energy storage becomes crucial for a sustainable future, evaluating technologies for cost, efficiency, material sustainability, and safety is essential.
Read our New Energy World articles on how energy storage fits into strategies for carbon reduction.
View our Energy Essentials Guide to learn more about hydrogen.
New Energy World stories
New predictions about the global energy system towards 2050
13th October 2026
DNV’s 2026 Energy transition outlook report, its 10th, divides the world between the energy importers and the energy exporters, and finds that it is t...
More than 8,000 European renewables sites found vulnerable to cyberattack
13th October 2026
Thousands of systems used to monitor and control European wind and solar sites are unnecessarily connected to the internet, making renewable energy in...
Low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia projects advance across Europe
13th October 2026
The UK Ammonia Alliance (UKAA) has published a roadmap setting out how the UK could develop a low-carbon ammonia sector, including restarting domestic...
Waratah ‘super battery’ enters full commercial operations in Australia
6th October 2026
Located at the former Munmorah coal-fired power station which closed down in 2012, the Waratah super battery provides 850MW of power and stores 1,680M...
Grid tech can supply 330GW of transmission and distribution without new infrastructure
6th October 2026
To support this growth, deploying digital technologies, grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) and AI could unlock up to 330GW of untapped capacity in exi...
Technical guidance publications
EI 3314
Guidance on passive fire protection for process and storage plant and equipment
October 2026
This technical publication provides guidance on the use of passive fire protection (PFP) materials and their application across the life cycle of proc...
EI 3633
Soil and groundwater risks at battery and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle energy retail sites
September 2026
EI 3633 Soil and groundwater risks at battery and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle energy retail sites examines the potential risks to soil and gro...
EI Standard 1541 Requirements for internal protective coating systems used in aviation fuel handling systems
September 2026
EI 1541 provides performance requirements for protective coating systems that may be used in aviation fuel handling systems (e.g. storage tanks, rail ...
EI 3653
Technical workshop proceedings – CCUS health and safety research alignment workshop
September 2026
The Energy Institute (EI) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have been working on the health and safety concerns relating to the deployment of ...
EI 3649
Managing the risks associated with unauthorised third-party drone activity near hazardous sites
August 2026
Within the UK, there has been an increase in unauthorised third-party drone activity in the immediate vicinity of industrial sites, including those re...