By José Miguel Cardemil, Principal Investigator, SERC Chile – UC

When we talk about decarbonization, we often imagine large wind turbines, extensive solar plants, or the definitive closure of coal-fired power plants. However, the energy transition is also played out in a much closer and more everyday space: our homes. For renewable energy to completely replace fossil fuels in daily life, there is a technical and strategic piece that cannot be missing: storage.

Today, most homes in Chile and the world consume more energy in the mornings and evenings, precisely when the sun is not shining. This creates a natural mismatch between solar energy production and residential consumption. If we cannot store the clean energy generated during the day, we will simply not succeed in replacing gas or wood for heating, hot water, or cooking.

Energy storage is, therefore, much more than a lithium battery in a parking lot. It is a family of solutions that includes thermal accumulators, efficient heat pumps, and management technologies that allow the heat obtained from daytime radiation to be used for nighttime consumption. Each of these elements enables renewable energy to adapt to actual consumption habits without requiring drastic routine changes from individuals.

Furthermore, these systems allow the electrification of domestic consumption—a necessary condition for achieving carbon neutrality—to be carried out meaningfully. It is not just about replacing a gas heater with an electric one, but about ensuring that electricity comes from clean sources and is available when needed. Residential climate control, which represents a significant portion of energy use in winter, can only be decarbonized if we manage to harness solar energy on a deferred basis.

Therefore, it is urgent to shift the focus of the conversation: it cannot be solely on generating more renewable energy, but on how to store it efficiently on a large scale and, especially, at the distributed level. This is where a significant public policy opportunity arises. Investment in domestic storage technologies remains low, and there is a lack of instruments to promote their widespread adoption, from subsidies to construction standards that integrate thermal solutions that are efficient and result in savings on basic household bills.

The energy future is not built solely with more panels, but with systems that make renewable energy a stable, flexible, and present companion in every corner of the home. The time has come to place storage at the center of this strategy.