Witnesses in the second session of a hearing of the Parliamentary Science and Technology Committee on Tuesday 2 April told MPs that UK energy storage is not on track to help meet carbon reduction targets. National Grid System Operator Director of Operations Duncan Burt said that for shorter-term storage the UK was on track, but that it was not there yet for longer-term storage. He said that more support was needed from government to roll out storage trials at scale. Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions Director Professor Nick Eyre said that the legal definition of energy storage needed to change from simply being classed as a form of energy generation. In addition, on the subject of potential intermittency problems with renewables, Burt said it was perfectly feasible to go to significant levels of renewable generation and to 100% zero carbon generation over the next six or seven years for regular periods of operation in GB.
