Small-scale energy storage in a distributed future

With increasing interest in the co-location of energy supply and demand through distributed generation will there be any need for large-scale energy-storage schemes in the future provision of energy? Indeed, if the future of energy supply is small-scale why should this not also apply to energy storage? This paper will examine the current drive towards localised heat and power production and available options for storage of energy at the point of demand. The economics, practicality and impact of localised storage will be analysed along with the potential for energy efficiency measures and load management to reduce energy storage requirements at the small scale