Unlocking the value of LDES: The Role of Long-Duration Energy Storage in Power System Transformation

Unlocking the value of LDES: The Role of Long-Duration Energy Storage in Power System Transformation

🎙 International Renewable Energy Agency 👥 12K 📅 November 12, 2025 ⏱ 61 min 👁 443 📄 expert opinion 🧭 2026-08-16
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

LDESenergy storagerenewablesgrid stabilitydecarbonization

Summary

This webinar, co-organized by IRENA and the LDES Council, explores the role of long-duration energy storage (LDES) in enabling reliable, cost-efficient power systems with high shares of variable renewable energy. Simon Benmarraze from IRENA opens by emphasizing the need for massive flexibility, citing IRENA’s 1.5°C scenario which projects 91% renewable energy by 2050, with solar and wind providing 70%. He highlights the ‘flexibility gap’ and the need for 10 times more daily flexibility by 2050. Julia Souder from LDES Council defines LDES as technologies storing energy for 8 hours to seasons, and outlines the council’s vision of 8 TW of LDES deployed, saving $540 billion annually. Rob Nicholson from NESO presents the UK case, detailing modeling for optimal LDES capacity, with a government study estimating £24 billion savings by 2050 from 20 GW of LDES. The fireside chat features experts from Ireland, Canada, Italy, and China discussing market signals, policy frameworks, and technology choices. Key points include Ireland’s system services evolution, Ontario’s procurement mechanisms, Italy’s market design, and China’s large-scale deployment. The webinar concludes with Q&A and closing remarks, emphasizing the critical role of LDES in the energy transition.

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Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The webinar provides valuable insights into the role of LDES from multiple perspectives, including system operators and international organizations. The argumentation is solid, relying on authoritative sources like IRENA’s analysis and UK government studies. However, the discussion remains high-level, with limited technical depth or critical examination of challenges. The value lies in the consensus among experts on the necessity of LDES, but the lack of detailed data or counterarguments weakens the overall argumentation.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The webinar demonstrates scientific rigor through references to IRENA’s World Energy Transitions Outlook and NESO’s modeling, which are credible sources. The title accurately reflects the content. The discussion is well-structured and grounded in expert knowledge, though it lacks peer-reviewed citations and detailed methodology. The presence of a promotional tone from the LDES Council slightly detracts from objectivity.

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Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content, focusing on the role of LDES in power system transformation.

Quality & Reliability

7/10

The webinar features expert opinions from IRENA, LDES Council, and system operators, with references to specific studies (e.g., UK government study, IRENA analysis). However, no detailed data or peer-reviewed sources are provided, and the content is largely promotional and high-level.

Key Moments

Cited Sources

Concurring Sources

Contribution & Novelties

The webinar provides a comprehensive overview of the current state and future potential of LDES, highlighting its critical role in integrating high shares of renewables. It brings together diverse international perspectives, offering a global snapshot of LDES deployment and policy developments. The emphasis on system operator experiences (UK, Ireland, Canada, Italy, China) adds practical insights not commonly found in academic literature.

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Radar Profile

The radar profile shows high scores in information quantity and quality, reflecting the webinar's comprehensive coverage and expert insights. The technical level is moderate, suitable for a general audience, while reliability is strong due to authoritative speakers. The overall balance indicates a valuable resource for understanding LDES's role, though it lacks deep technical detail.

Reliability 7/10

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