| Summary: | If the UK is to deliver on the legislated 80% carbon reduction by 2050, there are significant technology gaps that need closing. The lack of suitable planned energy storage is at the top of the list. The ability to store energy is a key component to ensure national security. The huge investments in renewable energy will have little value unless some of the energy storage issues are resolved as soon as possible. Much of the DECC’s focus has been to help deliver large national infrastructure projects, however, these reforms will also provide real opportunities for local communities to help meet the challenge of affordable energy security in a low carbon economy.
There are several barriers to the deployment of energy storage in the UK. Some of these are the current energy market structure in the UK, Government energy policy, public attitudes to energy storage, lack of business models on community energy storage, high cost of technology and the effect of the international energy market. Some of these barriers such as public attitudes and lack of business models for community energy can be addressed partially with the creation of new business models.
The case study provides an opportunity to review existing business models in community energy and grid level storage to try and create business models for Community Energy Storage. Of the four business models reviewed, the ‘Community Contracted’ business model seems to be the most viable for the UK energy market. As far as implementation is concerned, the ‘Community Contracted’ model would not be significantly disruptive, as it is based on the current business models of Community Energy, which have been quite successful in the UK. One of the challenges of the model is it depends on effective and possibly complex contractual obligations between the community and the third party service provider.
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