Energy Storage Requirements for Achieving Climate Neutrality: An Italian Case Study

Achieving climate neutrality before 2050 is a central objective of the European Green Deal. This transition involves phasing out non-renewable power plants and installing numerous renewable energy sources, resulting in non-dispatchable and intermittent energy production. Additionally, the transition entails an increase in energy consumption due to greater electrification, particularly in the heating and mobility sectors. In this context, there may be a growing need for the deployment of energy storage systems. This paper proposes a methodology to optimize the required capacity of energy storage systems to support the achievement of climate neutrality. The methodology is then applied to the case of the Province of Bolzano.