Currently, gaps in energy production from wind and solar are often replaced by power generation from natural gas. In a zero-emission electricity system, another way is needed to provide electricity when renewables are not generating energy.
“Renewable energy sources like wind and solar are great for reducing carbon emissions,” said lead researcher Lei Duan from the Carnegie Institution for Science.
“However, the wind and Sun have natural variation in their availability from day to day, as well as across geographic regions, and this creates complications for total emissions reduction.”
Previous studies have shown that curbing 80 per cent of carbon emissions can be achieved by ramping up wind and solar power harvesting installations.
However, gaps between supply and demand created by this variability in natural resources would require significant infrastructure changes, such as massive expansions in energy storage and transmission capabilities, as well...