Can long-duration energy storage transform energy systems?

In a new paper published in Nature Energy, Sepulveda, Mallapragada, and colleagues from MIT and Princeton University offer a comprehensive cost and performance evaluation of the role of long-duration energy storage (LDES) technologies in transforming energy systems.

Why is energy storage important?

Energy storage is a potential substitute for, or complement to, almost every aspect of a power system, including generation, transmission, and demand flexibility. Storage should be co-optimized with clean generation, transmission systems, and strategies to reward consumers for making their electricity use more flexible.

Why do we need a co-optimized energy storage system?

The need to co-optimize storage with other elements of the electricity system, coupled with uncertain climate change impacts on demand and supply, necessitate advances in analytical tools to reliably and efficiently plan, operate, and regulate power systems of the future.

Where will energy storage be deployed?

energy storage technologies. Modeling for this study suggests that energy storage will be deployed predomi-nantly at the transmission level, with important additional applications within rban distribu-tion networks. Overall economic growth and, notably, the rapid adoption of air conditioning will be the chief drivers

Does energy storage capacity cost matter?

In optimizing an energy system where LDES technology functions as “an economically attractive contributor to a lower-cost, carbon-free grid,” says Jenkins, the researchers found that the parameter that matters the most is energy storage capacity cost.

What is the Energy Storage Research Alliance (Esra)?

The Energy Storage Research Alliance will focus on advancing battery technology to help the U.S. achieve a clean and secure energy future Berkeley Lab’s contributions to ESRA include world-leading energy storage research expertise and capabilities, such as the Advanced Light Source. Credit: Marilyn Sargent/Berkeley Lab