Bioenergy: Role in Balancing the Electricity Grid and as Energy Storage

Bioenergy is currently the major source of renewable energy in the world, when considering heat power and also transport fuels, while wind and solar are fast growing alternatives [2]. The role of wind and solar in electricity production is rapidly increasing, but the integration of these intermittent, variable, and uncertain electric energy sources within the power grid places significant pressure on grid operation as the supply of electricity, especially from wind, cannot be fully controlled or rapidly predicted and easily matched with the demand. Here bioenergy, although it will continue to provide also the bulk of heating and transport fuels for decades to come, can eventually contribute to balancing the electrical grid. Here, following and based on existing results [1], attention is paid to the possible role of bioenergy as an effective, low-carbon and low-cost grid management and energy storage option.