It’s no secret that the renewable energy industry has had a tough six months, where 13 negative announcements from the government have slashed subsidy support. But, according to industry experts speaking at the Energy Now Expo, the future is bright for a maturing sector, and 2016 is predicted to be a breakthrough year for energy storage technologies.

James Court, head of policy and public affairs at the Renewable Energy Association (REA) is clear that there’s still plenty of excitement from farmers and landowners. “We’re coming out of a tough period, and we’ve needed a bit of group therapy, but the sector is evolving, and it’s about finding new market models.”

Storage is predicted to feature heavily in new market models, according to Merlin Hyman, chief executive for Regen SW. “People who used to develop solar farms are increasingly developing large battery storage facilities, which are fast becoming known as ‘energy barns’, and this is where energy can be stored on farm and exported to the grid, where the farmer can get pay back for various services.”

Storage is such a hot topic at the moment, that there was a dedicated session for it at the Energy Now Expo. Stephen Jones from the Energy Storage Network commented that although there is some policy uncertainty, the technology exists, and energy storage holds great potential across all renewable energy types.

“DECC and Ofgem are actively working on resolving the lack of clarity around the definition of energy storage, in May 2016 there is to be a consultation on this, with the report findings published the following autumn. They’re looking at the possibility of renewable energy being directly connected to network energy storage. There’s currently in excess of 200MWh installed globally, and in countries where demand is rapidly increasing – it’s becoming essential,” said Stephen.

With over 3000 farmers and landowners through the doors at the Energy Now Expo, it’s certain that the sector is resilient in light of the hard time it’s had. Farmers are interested in renewables, especially those struggling to make ends meet due to low market prices. And with the industry in flux, it’s encouraging new ideas to boost returns on farm.