Page 23 - European Energy Innovation - autumn 2018 publication
P. 23
Autumn 2018 European Energy Innovation 23
SOLAR ENERGY
Storage optimises solar supply
©SolarPower Europe
a battery system allows a firmer solar consumers and businesses to take supervision of national regulatory
output, stabilising energy generation a proactive role in the energy transition. agencies.
and demand variations. Additionally,
solar electricity stored in a battery Solar and storage will play a • Second, the emergence of new
system is fully dispatchable and can prominent role in the transition business models deriving from
be used during night hours. to a sustainable, smart and more the services provided by solar
decentralised energy system. and storage to the grid should
Lastly, storage provides a number of However, for the potential of solar be supported. National regulatory
ancillary services to the grid, such as and storage to be fully deployed authorities should make sure
correcting fluctuations in frequency it is essential that in the current that system operators do not
with very high accuracy. Under Electricity Market Design negotiations interfere with the development
this point of view, storage provides its numerous benefits are entirely of new markets for grid services,
valuable additional benefits to the grid. recognised. including future markets.
Besides the several technical To ensure that the future electricity • Third, national authorities
benefits, solar and storage system is based on the participation should draw up guidelines
together bring important economic of different flexibility providers or procurement clauses on
advantages. Storing solar electricity operating in an open market, a tendering procedures, to ensure
in periods of overproduction when number of conditions need to be met: that the process is fair and non-
prices are high and using it when discriminatory.
they are low helps stabilise the cost • First, in order to ensure a truly
of energy, reducing overall price open and competitive market, • Finally, active customers and
fluctuations. Moreover, the presence system operators should not be self-consumers should be subject
of storage ensures higher flexibility allowed to own, develop, manage to fair, cost-reflective charges
and prevents network upgrades and or operate storage facilities. Any and proportionate obligations,
further expansion costs. influence on the energy market by in accordance to their effective
system operators would result in impact on the grid. Notably,
Significant social and environmental hampering market development. storage owners should be
benefits are also brought by the Exceptions to this principle in prevented from double taxation,
development of solar and storage: cases of clear market failure may ensuring that grid fees are only
decreased GHG emissions, local be allowed, but only under strict levied once for every kilowatt-
job creation, empowerment of limitations and subject to the hour fed into the grid. l
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
