Energy storage is a national treasure

What is energy storage?

Summary Energy storage is an enabling technology for rapid acceleration in renewable energy deployments. It enables flexibility to ensure reliable service to customers when generation fluctuates, whether over momentary periods through frequency regulation or over hours, by capturing renewable generation for use during periods of peak demand.

What is the future of energy storage?

Storage enables electricity systems to remain in balance despite variations in wind and solar availability, allowing for cost-effective deep decarbonization while maintaining reliability. The Future of Energy Storage report is an essential analysis of this key component in decarbonizing our energy infrastructure and combating climate change.

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.

How does energy storage work?

Duration: Unlike a power plant that can provide electricity as long as it is connected to its fuel source, energy storage technologies are energy-limited: they store their fuel in a tank and must recharge when that tank is empty.

Why are energy storage devices unique among grid assets?

Understanding Current Energy Storage Technologies Energy storage devices are unique among grid assets because they can both withdraw energy from the grid during periods of excess generation and inject energy during periods of insufficient generation.

Are energy storage technologies scalable?

Scalability: Most energy storage technologies are modular, which allows them to be scaled down to a small device that supports the demands of a single customer or scaled up to a large project that supports the demands of thousands of customers.