Storage Needs, Options and Challenges - Today and Tomorrow

26-27 January 2011 | Montreux, Switzerland

Today it is broadly accepted that the share of renewable energy sources in the European power grid is going to increase substantially and will reach very high percentages in the future production mix. Expansion of storage capacities is often considered pivotal to allow for this “renewable revolution”!

However, many questions remain: What is the incremental need for storage capacities in the next decades? Which technologies are most suited to meet the expected need, and which innovation is coming into the sector? Similarly, what is the role of transmission and demand-side management to reduce storage needs? And finally, what are the political, technical and market design challenges of integrating storage capacities in the grid?

To find answers to these questions, the Renewables-Grid-Initiative organised a workshop on:

Storage Needs, Options and Challenges - Today and Tomorrow

which took place on 27 January 2011, 08:45 to 17:00 at the Eden Palace au Lac in Montreux, Switzerland

The workshop was hosted by Swissgrid and the SGN Swiss Association for Grid Infrastructure Research.

As a special feature, participants had the opportunity to visit the power station of the Grande Dixence dam, the highest gravity dam in the world on Wednesday, 26 January 2011, in the afternoon. A RGI Dinner followed near Montreux to give participants an exclusive opportunity for informal talks and networking before the workshop.

Find general documents in the right column, a few impressions below followed by the presentations made at the workshop. A report and further pictures will follow soon.