Anil Srivastava, CEO of Leclanché and keynote speaker at Energy Storage, calls for a shift in focus in the energy storage debate – World's largest energy storage conference is growing by more than 40 percent

Düsseldorf, 28.01.2015. While the future of energy storage lies in a multiple-technology approach that consolidates the strengths of different storage options into hybrid systems, the current energy storage debate is focusing too heavily on the advantages and disadvantages of individual storage technologies. This hypothesis will form the central argument of the keynote speech to be delivered by Anil Srivastava, CEO of Leclanché, at the Energy Storage Europe Conference held in Düsseldorf, Germany, from March 9–11. Tickets for the industry's largest energy storage conference are available at tinyurl.com/ESticketshop for the reduced early-bird rate until January 31.

"Different storage applications often require different capabilities. While some areas of application need high output and quick reaction, others demand inexpensive storage technologies with a high capacity. Frequently these various features need to be combined seamlessly with each other," explains Anil Srivastava. "These days, many people are on the lookout for a kind of miracle system that fulfills all their requirements equally as well. Until such a concept exists, batteries, for example, will continue to be used in devices to which they are not ideally suited and oversized storage systems or a reduced service life will continue to be endured. During my more than 20 years' experience of working in the energy industry, I have never come across any miracle technology. This is why I am convinced that we should no longer invest merely in making certain types of storage devices stand out from their competitors. Instead, we would achieve more by using smart software to integrate the strengths of different storage technologies seamlessly into hybrid systems. This applies to both stationary applications and e-mobility."

Srivastava cites electric buses as an example of where a hybrid design would work. During acceleration, buses require a fast storage system capable of producing a high output for a short period of time. However, during the journey they need an economical battery with a high capacity. The best solution would be to use hybrid systems in which various types of batteries seamlessly perform a variety of functions. A similar approach could be used in stationary applications to perform the different grid services required.

The search for the best possible system design does not merely extend to solutions developed for use in vehicles or homes. Srivastava argues that if we are to develop an efficient, flexible grid architecture able to manage large quantities of fluctuating renewable energy, a package of measures is actually needed: "Instead of trying to manage fluctuations in electricity demand and supply by continuously increasing power line capacity, we must tackle the problem at its source. On the supply side, this involves using storage systems as an intelligent network resource, a practice that is more economical than equipping each individual generator of renewable energy with their own storage option. On the demand side, major energy consumers must be given more financial incentives from the government to reduce peak loads. This would lead to a grid and storage system architecture that is overall more beneficial to the economy than an uncoordinated set of yet more intertwined networks and a plethora of privately owned storage solutions."

About Energy Storage
Energy Storage Europe 2015 will bring together five international energy-related conferences and one exhibition under one roof. The event, which will take place March 9 to 11, 2015, in Düsseldorf, Germany, will combine Energy Storage Europe, the 9th International Renewable Energy Storage Conference (IRES 2015), the 2nd VDE Financial Dialogue Europe 2015, the 4th OTTI Power-to-Gas Conference, and the German Solar Alliance's 6th Storage Day. Together, these annual conferences will cover the widest topical range in the international energy storage market. More than 1,500 international visitors are expected and almost 100 exhibitors to participate in the trade show, which will take place in conjunction with the conferences.

Program download: tinyurl.com/ProES2015-EN

For more information, please visit:
www.energy-storage-online.com
www.eurosolar.de
www.otti.de
www.vde.com/de/Institut/
www.solarallianz.com