Accelerating Renewable Energy Through Partnerships
Highlights
- In 2019, the World Bank launched the Energy Storage Partnership (ESP), to drive energy storage innovation in developing countries.
- Starting with 29 members across national laboratories, development agencies, industry and philanthropies, the ESP has now grown to 58 partners.
- The ESP fosters international cooperation on adapting energy storage solutions and is hosted by the World Bank's ESMAP.
And what do we do when the sun doesn't shine, and the wind doesn't blow?
This has been the recurring concern of our colleagues at energy ministries and electricity utilities around the world, when we discuss with them the fact that solar and wind generators can provide the cheapest kilowatt-hour (kWh). It is a fundamental question that has been holding back the expansion of clean energy. As a result, too many countries, especially the world's poorest, are still locked in a vicious cycle of power sector deficits that prevent investments, and heavy subsidies that lead to fiscal stress and further indebtedness.
Combining Storage to Renewable Energy
The solution lies in energy storage systems, often batteries, which store energy produced from renewable energy like solar panel and wind turbines and dispatch it as needed, ensuring an uninterrupted supply. Such a system shift can allow governments to benefit from affordable solar and wind energy while reducing reliance on costly, imported fossil fuels.
It is now widely recognized that energy storage is crucial for achieving Mission 300 and net-zero goals.
Accelerating Storage Through Partnership
In 2019, to accelerate the deployment of energy storage in developing countries, the World Bank brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to innovate together. At the Clean Energy Ministerial in Canada, we convened a first-of-its-kind global partnership on energy storage – the Energy Storage Partnership (ESP) - to foster international cooperation on adapting and developing energy storage solutions for developing countries.
Starting with 29 members, drawn from national laboratories, research institutions, development agencies, industry and philanthropies, the Energy Storage Partnership (ESP) now has 58 partners. The ESP is hosted by the World Bank's Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP).
The Energy Storage Partnership's achievements
Since its inception five years ago, the ESP has grown, thanks to the collective efforts and shared vision of its partners. Our partner base has worked to promote technical cooperation and training, crucial for accelerating the spread of energy storage systems, while facilitating knowledge sharing and exchange between partners and client countries.
ESP supported the Battery Storage Investment Program, mobilizing over $961 million for battery storage projects through the Climate Investment Funds (CIFs), Canada Climate Finance Facility, and other climate funds. The program has contributed to 6 Gigawatt hours (GWh) of committed battery storage capacity in active projects across 33 countries, with an additional 1.5 GWh identified for future projects in the pipeline. Examples of those countries include Namibia, Botswana, Kenya, Burkina Faso and Turkey. The program also supported battery storage in South Africa (833 MWh), Central African Republic (25 MWh), Marshall Islands and the Maldives (50 MWh).
For reference, one GWh of battery capacity can store the electricity produced by 1.9 million photovoltaic panels or 294 wind turbines.
Our interventions have led battery storage to countries which are at the forefront of technological advancement such as China and India as well as countries which often benefit little from cutting-edge technologies such as Guinea-Bissau, and Sao Tome & Principe.
In Ukraine, the Bank support aims to enhance the flexibility of the Ukrainian power grid through storage investments. 197 MW of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and 35.9MWp of solar will be installed at selected hydro power plants to provide grid ancillary services and improve system flexibility for variable renewable energy integration. In Burkina Faso, the Bank support aims to enable the integration of renewable energy plants into the grid with BESS assets, mitigating its shortfall in energy supply. The first phase of the 150MWp + 120MWh solar-plus-storage tender is well under way.
ESP and Gender
ESP is also committed to closing gender gaps in the energy sector. Through the Women in Energy Storage mentoring program, in partnership with the Global Women's Network for Energy Transition (GWNET), ESP empowers women's professionalization and leadership. Now in its third cohort, the program has 45 alumni in important decision-making and leadership roles in their home countries and regions.
New Technologies
The ESP is a key forum for exchange on new battery storage technologies adapted to developing countries' climates. Leading practitioners and investments are regular speakers at ESP events. Recently, discussions have been held on long-duration storage technologies, essential for storing energy with minimal losses over extended periods. These technologies include compressed air, flow batteries, and pumped storage hydro..
Marking Five Years of the Power of Partnerships
Next week, ESP will mark its fifth anniversary at the Stakeholder Forum and 11th Partners' Meeting from November 4-7, 2024, in Marrakesh, Morocco, organized with ESP partner Masen. Masen is a pioneer and world leader in large-scale concentrated solar power, notably through Morocco's Noor plant. The meetings will cement the Masen-World Bank partnership, which now includes capacity building and knowledge sharing, benefiting other ESP partners and Bank clients, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. New joint programs like the BESS Testbed and south-south knowledge exchanges, as well as the latest policies and regulations, investment needs, capacity building and implementation will be discussed.
