British energy storage liquid cooling pipeline

What is long-duration electricity storage (LDEs)?

Long-Duration Electricity  Storage (LDES) refers to energy storage systems that can store and release electricity for long periods, typically eight hours or more. These systems help balance the supply and demand of electricity, especially when using renewable energy sources like wind and solar, which can be unpredictable.

How many pumped storage hydro schemes are there in Great Britain?

Great Britain currently only has 2.8GW of LDES, across four pumped storage hydro schemes in Scotland and Wales, and there have been no new schemes in the last 40 years, as we've reported previously (see Pumped Storage Hydro – the forgotten solution?).

Will 20GW of LDEs save the energy system £24 billion?

But the National Energy System Operator (NESO) has estimated that we need up to 15.3GW of LDES by 2050 to meet our net zero target. Deploying 20GW of LDES could save the electricity system £24 billion between 2025 and 2050, reducing household energy bills.