IEA ES Annex 35: Flexible Sector Coupling through Energy Storage Implementation

The increasing share of renewable energies and thus also greater fluctuations in the electricity grid are creating new challenges for electricity grid operators and energy suppliers. At certain times the strong fluctuations of wind and PV power create large power peaks that are significantly higher than the electricity demand. Due to the lack of possibilities for electricity storage, power plants must therefore be shut down temporarily.

However, these electricity peaks can be used to store energy in other sectors like the heating (cooling) and mobility sector. By storing energy with thermal, chemical or electrical storage technologies in the heating (cooling) and mobility sector, the electricity grid can be relieved and the share of usable renewable energy can be increased. Another advantage is that thermal storages often offer a more cost-effective storage option.

The main objective of the Annex is to investigate the possibilities and effects of implementing energy storage for sector coupling. For this purpose, both existing and future technologies and different possible storage system configurations are taken into account. These will be collected and discussed with the experts based on their experience and know-how, and the potential of storages for sector coupling will be evaluated both technically and economically.

As the challenge does not only affect the Austrian electricity grid, but also requires cross-border cooperation, this IEA TCP is the ideal platform for an intensive exchange of experience on an international level. In addition to the content-related work, international networking and exchange is a main objective of the project. Due to the importance and urgency of the topic, there is not only a great interest in a future cooperation within the Annex 35 partners, but also a cooperation with other IEA Tasks as well as other international committees is necessary to enable an efficient progress of the project.

The dissemination of the achieved results and findings on a national level is a core aspect of the work with which to inform other Austrian research partners, as well as manufacturers, network operators or energy suppliers and to form a possible cooperation and to identify market opportunities at an early stage.

Austria, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands

Wim van Helden
AEE INTEC
Feldgasse 19, 8200 Gleisdorf
E-Mail: w.vanhelden@aee.at