Energy storage explodes across the board

What would happen if there were no energy storage?

Without energy storage, the costs of the energy transition would be higher. Countries would need to “overbuild” wind and solar plants or look at other ways of integrating renewable energy, such as by managing demand — asking consumers to use less electricity because the wind is not blowing, for example — or importing electricity from abroad.

Should energy storage be a partisan issue?

Energy-storage technologies “are neutral as to the fuel source,” Leah Stokes, a political scientist at the University of California, Santa Barbara, told me. They “can store any kind of power—clean or dirty.” Storage may become a partisan issue if it begins clearly helping renewable energy to threaten fossil fuels.

How will energy storage help meet global decarbonization goals?

To meet ambitious global decarbonization goals, electricity system planning and operations will change fundamentally. With increasing reliance on variable renewable energy resources, energy storage is likely to play a critical accompanying role to help balance generation and consumption patterns.

What happened at a battery storage facility in California?

A recent fire at a battery storage facility in California is bringing fresh attention to safety issues tied to energy storage as the technology grows in deployment across the U.S. The fire occurred in September 2022 at Pacific Gas & Electric’s (PG&E) Moss Landing battery storage facility in California.

What happened to SDG&E energy storage facility?

Located on seven acres in a commercial-industrial zone, the facility opened in February 2022 and delivers energy to a nearby SDG&E substation. The Sept. 18 fire is under investigation, with fire officials saying they expect a final determination coming in about two months. The storage facility resumed operations the following day.

What is energy storage & how does it work?

As installations of wind turbines and solar panels increase — especially in China — energy storage is certain to grow rapidly. They are part of the arsenal of clean energy technologies that will enable a net zero emissions future. Without them, the world will never be able to move away from fossil fuels entirely. How does it work?