Global battery storage capacity needs to increase dramatically by the end of the decade to support renewables and avoid grid bottlenecks, according to a new report from the International Energy Agency.
The report Thursday found that if the world triples renewable energy from current levels by 2030 — as was agreed at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai last December — battery capacity would need to increase sixfold and reach 1,200 GW by the same year.
The report “sets out the role that batteries can play alongside renewables as a competitive, secure and sustainable alternative to electricity generation from fossil fuels — while also underpinning the decarbonization of road transport,” IEA said in a press release.
“The electricity and transport sectors are two key pillars for bringing down emissions quickly,” said IEA executive director Fatih Birol in a statement. “Batteries will provide the foundations in both areas, playing an invaluable role in scaling up renewables and electrifying transport while delivering secure and sustainable energy for businesses and households.”