i'm hoping that we see some development of smaller scale energy storage systems that help move away from generators, even something like a screw pump so it's rate can be varied to use excess power generation to lift water into a higher reservoir - it could them be used for irrigation without the need for other power and converted back into electricity as required in an emergency. Ideal for remote farmers as they'll require water storage anyway and can use the gravity fed irrigation system in normal use (using the same pump power or less used in a conventional system to raise water into the top tank) then have what's essentially free energy (in that it would have been wasted as excess previously) to add additional water for storage (from rain catchment systems or whatever is currently used) plus you even get a little bit of even freer energy if it rains.

It's such a safe, stable and otherwise useful energy storage method that i really think the potential energy in lifted water is such a promising area of development, there are so many pumping methods too - you can even use direct thermal energy to lift steam up into a condenser thus cleaning, sanitising and moving the water all in one.