The liquid air alternative to fossil fuels – BBC
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Report on Liquid Air Energy Storage and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals
Introduction: The Role of Energy Storage in the Global Green Transition
The global transition towards sustainable energy necessitates a comprehensive remodelling of electricity grids. As nations integrate more renewable sources, advanced energy storage solutions become critical for grid stability and reliability. This report examines Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) as a key technology supporting this transition, with a particular focus on its alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Economic Viability and Alignment with SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)
A primary barrier to the widespread adoption of renewable energy storage is cost. LAES presents a highly cost-effective solution, directly contributing to SDG 7 by making clean energy more affordable. An analysis based on the levelised cost of storage (LCOS) metric, which estimates the cost per unit of stored energy over a project’s lifespan, reveals significant economic advantages for LAES.
- Liquid Air Energy Storage: As low as $45 per megawatt-hour.
- Pumped Hydro Storage: Approximately $120 per megawatt-hour.
- Lithium-ion Batteries: Approximately $175 per megawatt-hour.
According to expert analysis, while policy support is currently necessary for the economic viability of most storage methods, “liquid air energy storage stands out as a particularly cost-effective option for large-scale storage.” This affordability is crucial for developing the infrastructure needed to provide universal access to clean energy.
Technological Profile and Support for SDG 9 and SDG 13
The future of energy infrastructure will rely on a diverse portfolio of storage technologies, each with unique strengths. LAES offers a distinct set of advantages that support SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) by providing resilient and sustainable infrastructure to combat climate change.
- Pumped Hydro: This method is highly effective and durable but is geographically constrained by the need for specific topographies and water supplies.
- Lithium-ion Batteries: Batteries offer high efficiency and locational flexibility but have a limited lifespan of approximately 10 years, raising concerns about resource consumption and waste.
- Liquid Air Energy Storage: LAES combines locational flexibility with the capacity for longer-duration storage than batteries, experiencing minimal energy losses over time. This innovation is vital for building the resilient infrastructure required to support a grid powered by intermittent renewables.
By enabling the large-scale storage of wind and solar power, LAES directly facilitates the decarbonization of the energy sector, a cornerstone of global climate action efforts under SDG 13.
Conclusion: A Diversified Strategy for Sustainable Infrastructure
It is anticipated that future electricity grids will integrate a mix of storage technologies to ensure resilience and efficiency. The unique advantages of LAES, particularly its cost-effectiveness and long-duration storage capability, position it as an essential component in this new energy paradigm. The global rebuilding of energy grids represents a critical opportunity to deploy innovative solutions like LAES, thereby advancing the goals of affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), resilient infrastructure (SDG 9), sustainable cities (SDG 11), and climate action (SDG 13).
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
The article on liquid air energy storage connects to several Sustainable Development Goals by focusing on the technological advancements required for a global transition to renewable energy. The primary SDGs addressed are:
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The core theme is developing cost-effective and efficient energy storage solutions to support electricity grids based on renewable sources.
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The article discusses innovative technologies (liquid air storage) and the necessity of rebuilding and upgrading global electricity infrastructure to accommodate the green transition.
- SDG 13: Climate Action: The entire context of the article is the “green transition,” which is a fundamental strategy for climate action. Energy storage is presented as a critical component for enabling the widespread use of renewable energy, thereby reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
Based on the discussion of energy storage technologies and the grid transition, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The article explains that energy storage technologies like liquid air are essential for remodeling grids to cope with new, renewable generation. Storage solves the intermittency problem of renewables, thus enabling a higher share of them in the grid.
- Target 7.b: By 2030, expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern and sustainable energy services. The article directly addresses this by stating, “We’re rebuilding all grids globally, based on new generation.” This rebuilding involves implementing advanced storage technologies like liquid air, which represents a significant technological upgrade for sustainable energy infrastructure.
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies. The development of liquid air energy storage is an example of an innovative, clean technology. The article’s emphasis on its cost-effectiveness and ability to store energy for longer than batteries points to its role in making the energy infrastructure more sustainable and efficient.
SDG 13: Climate Action
- Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The article’s discussion of the “green transition” and the need to remodel national electricity grids reflects the integration of climate change mitigation strategies into infrastructure planning. The statement that these storage methods may need “policy support” to be economically viable further highlights the connection to national policies.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
The article mentions and implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress:
Indicators for SDG 7
- Levelised Cost of Storage (LCOS): The article explicitly uses this metric to compare the cost-effectiveness of different storage technologies. It provides specific figures: “$45 (£34) per megawatt-hour” for liquid air, compared to “$120 (£89) for pumped hydro and $175 (£130) for lithium-ion batteries.” This directly measures the affordability of clean energy infrastructure (Target 7.b).
- Energy Storage Capacity: The article implies this indicator by discussing the need for “large-scale storage” and comparing the duration for which different technologies can store energy. The expansion of storage capacity (measured in MWh or GWh) would be a key indicator of progress in upgrading energy infrastructure to support renewables (Target 7.2 and 7.b).
Indicators for SDG 9
- Adoption of New Technologies: The deployment of liquid air energy storage systems globally would be a direct indicator of the adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies in infrastructure (Target 9.4). The article suggests this will be a significant part of future grids.
Indicators for SDG 13
- Investment in Grid Modernization: While not providing a specific number, the article’s statement about “rebuilding all grids globally” implies that the level of investment in upgrading electricity grids to support the green transition is a key indicator of integrating climate measures into national planning (Target 13.2).
4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy |
7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
7.b: Expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern and sustainable energy services. |
– Levelised Cost of Storage (LCOS): The article provides specific costs per megawatt-hour for liquid air ($45), pumped hydro ($120), and lithium-ion batteries ($175). – Energy Storage Capacity: Implied by the need for “large-scale storage” to support the grid. |
| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable… with greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies. | – Adoption of New Technologies: Implied by the discussion of liquid air energy storage as a key component in “rebuilding all grids globally.” |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. |
– Investment in Grid Modernization: Implied by the statement that countries are remodeling and rebuilding electricity grids as part of the “green transition.” – Policy Support for Storage Technologies: Mentioned as necessary for making storage methods economically viable. |
Source: bbc.com
