Environmental and Social Implications of Energy Storage Technologies – New Report Published
We are pleased to announce the publication of the Environment Agency report, “Net Zero: Environmental and Social Implications of Energy Storage Technologies,” which was undertaken by Risk & Policy Analysts Ltd, commissioned by the Environment Agency and delivered in collaboration with RAB Consultants.
Scope of the study
With the increased emphasis on the need for renewable energy production, energy storage technologies play an increasingly pivotal role in maintaining the stability and reliability of the energy system, allowing supply through periods of low energy production.
The study identifies and provides the underpinning evidence required for permitting and regulating, during the transition to Net Zero, and the potential environmental impacts, of six energy storage technologies. The assessed technologies were ammonia storage, hydrogen storage, compressed air energy storage (CAES), thermal energy storage (TES), underground pumped hydroelectric storage (UPHS), and battery energy storage systems (BESS).
Collaborative approach and expert input
The study was undertaken by RPA, with support from RAB Consultants, for the Environment Agency. The Environment Agency’s social science team explored the social science evidence base for these technologies. Additionally, three workshops with Environment Agency staff were held, with RPA and RAB benefitting from their expertise across a range of topics, including water quality, permitting, and land contamination.
Key findings and future research priorities
The study helped identify significant variation in the various technologies’ deployment trajectories, with battery storage being the most advanced, while other technologies remain at earlier stages of development. The report highlights areas where further investigation is required with regards to environmental impacts of the technology, for example, a lack of robust data on fugitive emissions associated with ammonia storage and use, which warrants closer examination in future studies.
Informing policy and regulatory decisions
RPA’s work in this study feeds into the Environment Agency’s overarching objectives to identify how its regulatory role interfaces with each energy storage technology, and where the risks from these emerging technologies may need to be co-regulated in the future.
As the UK continues to accelerate the deployment of energy storage technologies to meet its climate goals, ensuring that these technologies are both environmentally sustainable and economically effective is essential. This report provides a critical foundation for addressing evidence gaps and supporting informed policy and regulatory decisions.