Renewable Energy Systems and Storage Technologies

The global shift to decarbonised energy systems has driven rapid advances in renewable electricity generation and complementary storage technologies. Key generation sources include onshore and offshore wind turbines, solar photovoltaics, hydropower, bioenergy and geothermal installations. Solar and wind capacities have expanded dramatically in the last decade, supported by grid infrastructure upgrades and market mechanisms that value flexibility and low marginal-cost generation. However, the inherent variability of solar irradiance and wind speed introduces challenges for grid stability and supply–demand balancing. Energy storage technologies address this variability by storing surplus electricity during periods of high renewable output and discharging when demand peaks or generation dips. Established storage solutions such as pumped hydroelectric storage and chemical batteries—chiefly lithium-ion and lead-acid systems—provide short- to medium-term grid services, including frequency regulation, peak shaving and reserve capacity. Emerging storage pathways encompass power-to-gas processes that convert excess electricity into hydrogen or synthetic methane for seasonal management, as well as advanced battery chemistries, including flow batteries and solid-oxide electrolysers. Integration of storage within a sector-coupled energy network enables cross-vector applications, linking power, heating, transport and industrial processes to optimise overall efficiency. Continuous innovation in materials, systems integration and digital control strategies is crucial to improve round-trip efficiency, reduce costs and enhance the reliability of renewable energy systems. The global deployment of these technologies is instrumental in achieving climate targets and ensuring resilient, low-carbon energy supply across diverse regions.

Research from Nature Portfolio

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Renewable Energy Systems and Storage Technologies publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in renewable energy systems and storage technologies across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Electrolysis: A process that uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, creating a storable energy carrier.
Power-to-Gas: Conversion of electrical energy into gaseous fuels, such as hydrogen or synthetic methane, for storage and later use.
Intermittency: The variable nature of renewable energy generation due to changing weather conditions.
Capacity Factor: The ratio of actual energy output over a period to the maximum possible output if a system operated at full capacity continuously.
Battery Energy Storage System (BESS): An assembly of electrochemical cells and management hardware used to store and dispatch electrical energy on demand.

References

1. Future environmental impacts of global hydrogen production. Energy & Environmental Science (2024).
2. The potential role of a hydrogen network in Europe. Joule (2023).
3. Overview of current development in electrical energy storage technologies and the application potential in power system operation. Applied Energy (2015).
4. A review at the role of storage in energy systems with a focus on Power to Gas and long-term storage. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (2018).
5. Is a 100% renewable European power system feasible by 2050?. Applied Energy (2019).