The environmental sustainability objectives of the current Integrated Plan for Energy and Climate (NECP) envisage an increasing penetration of renewable sources in the electricity production mix. In particular, non-programmable renewable sources (wind and solar) will grow, in terms of both percentage contribution and absolute production. As a result of this growth, greater flexibility will be required from both the transmission and distribution networks, which can be achieved through modernisation interventions with a view to smart grids and the development of significant storage capacities. The development of storage systems is one of the objectives of the NECP, not only to improve the safety of transmission and distribution networks but also with a view to better integrating renewable sources into the electricity system, in order to reduce overgeneration as much as possible.

Therefore, electrochemical storage systems are one of the functional solutions for a sustainable transition of the Italian electricity system. For this reason, it is essential to assess their sustainability in a broad sense, in both environmental and economic terms. From this perspective, the life cycle approach appears to be the most correct one to follow to assess environmental and economic impacts, using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC). To this end, a literature analysis of LCA and LCC studies of stationary batteries was carried out. This analysis allowed us to set up a methodology to be applied in future LCA and LCC studies of lithium stationary batteries produced by the Italian supply chain, as well as to analyse innovative electrochemical storage systems based on sodium. In particular, with regard to LCC, RSE also developed an original estimation methodology that calculates the LCC starting from the costs of commodities, i.e., those goods that are not offered on the market without qualitative distinction (e.g., metals, energy).