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
Hams Hall BESS enters operation as Europe’s largest by storage capacity
10th November 2026
Located next to the Hams Hall substation in North Warwickshire, the project adds 350MW/1,243MWh of storage capacity to the UK electricity system. BW E...
Electricity grid constraints found to be the limiting factor in India’s renewables boom
10th November 2026
India’s installed renewable power capacity has almost quadrupled over the past decade, cementing the country’s position as the world’s second-fastest-...
Cooling demand to outpace EV and AI growth by 2040
10th November 2026
The report suggests that global electricity demand is growing fast, driven by a race to decarbonise. Yet greenhouse gas emissions are not decreasing f...
UK Energy Independence Bill sets out consumer debt relief and cracks down on energy brokers
10th November 2026
The bill is said to reinforce regulatory protections and tackle systemic market issues to clean up the domestic grid. Prime Minister Andy Burnham stat...
UK predicts sufficient gas for winter, but transatlantic trade remains vexed
3rd November 2026
Compared with last year, LNG imports are predicted to rise by 5% to 12.3bn m3, which National Gas says is to offset declines from the UK Continental S...
Technical guidance publications
EI 3664
The quality of aviation fuel available in the United Kingdom annual survey 2021 to 2022
November 2026
This report, jointly funded by the Coordinating Research Council (CRC) and the Energy Institute (EI), contains a summary of the data relating to the s...
EI 3598
Microbiological impact studies relating to the feasibility assessment of hydrogen and carbon dioxide subsurface storage
October 2026
This guidance document addresses the critical knowledge gaps and outlines recommendations to ensure microbiological risks are properly assessed and mi...
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 3655
Experimental and modelling study of a multicomponent CCUS mixture to validate Equations of State (EoS)
October 2026
EI 3655 Experimental and modelling study of a multicomponent CCUS mixture to validate Equations of State (EoS) presents a comprehensive experimental a...
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...