Storage workshop in Montreux

27 January 2011

Montreux, Switzerland

Organised by RGI, and hosted by Swissgrid and the SGN Swiss Association for Grid Infrastructure Research

Today it is broadly accepted that the share of renewable energy sources in the European power grid is going to increase substantially and will reach very high percentages in the future production mix. Expansion of storage capacities is often considered pivotal to allow for this “renewable revolution”!

However, many questions remain: What is the incremental need for storage capacities in the next decades? Which technologies are most suited to meet the expected need, and which innovation is coming into the sector? Similarly, what is the role of transmission and demand-side management to reduce storage needs? And finally, what are the political, technical and market design challenges of integrating storage capacities in the grid?

As a special feature, participants had the opportunity to visit the power station of the Grande Dixence dam, the highest gravity dam in the world on Wednesday, 26 January 2011, in the afternoon. A RGI Dinner followed near Montreux to give participants an exclusive opportunity for informal talks and networking before the workshop.