

Big Batteries
Long Duration Energy Storage: It’s Complicated
Here is an excerpt from our recent New Energy issue:
“Our Peaceful Power Market is Coming to an End
From 1970 to 2000, the U.S. added about one trillion kilowatt hours of new power generation every year. It was a slow but steady climb for decades. But growth slowed after 2000, until we hit about 4,000 billion kilowatt hours in 2005, where we remained since. There hasn’t been a material change in total power generation in 15 years. And demand is the same.
However, there are fundamental changes going on today that will impact both the supply and demand of electricity in the U.S. (and the world). The move away from fossil fuels and towards electrification has the potential to derail the placid power market we’ve had for the last decade and a half.
The power supply buffet is changing rapidly. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), approximately thirty-seven gigawatts (GW) of new solar power will come online in 2024. Wind and solar combined should overtake power generation from coal for the first time ever.
That’s a huge milestone, but it comes with a cost. Coal power is dependable. It’s called “baseload” because it’s always there. Wind and solar are not always available. They need additional power supplies or storage as backup. And that’s a potential problem for both power providers and customers.
We can easily imagine a situation where a hot, still period disrupts wind power when everyone wants to use their air conditioning. That could be enough to cause power issues.”
Whenever there is a mention of wind and solar power it seems that the first thing people say is, “Sure it’s great when the wind is blowing, and the Sun is out but what are you going to do when it’s not?”
And yes, wind and solar is not an on-demand baseload energy in the same way as coal or nuclear. But does that mean it cannot be part of the “baseload” future?
Enter Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES)
LDES refers to technologies and systems designed to store large amounts of energy for extended periods. That can be from several hours to several days. LDES addresses the intermittent nature of renewable energy from solar and wind power. It can play a critical role in the new energy grid by storing excess energy when it’s available and releasing it when needed.
But it is complicated.
Storing energy and releasing that energy on demand is not easy. We don’t have battery tech that can handle that much energy yet. We need some talented engineers to focus on this issue.
Clean Power, Anytime, Anywhere
That’s why the Department of Energy created the Energy Storage Grand Challenge (ESGC). They want to accelerate the development, commercialization, and utilization of next-generation energy storage technologies.
One goal of the ESGC program, The Long Duration Storage Shot, is to create systems that can deliver 10+ hours of grid-scale energy storage, reduce the cost of the system by 90%, and deliver it in the next ten years. It’s not small ask. But if some group can deliver it, energy storage could accelerate full decarbonization of the electric grid.
That’s the goal.
The Department of Energy’s “Pathway to Commercial Liftoff: Long Duration Storage” is a deep dive into implementing LDES technologies. This program sets the ground rules and common data to help get to commercialization of clean energy technologies. The program works up and down the energy technology chain to meet goals of carbon-pollution free electricity by 2035 and Net Zero emissions by 2050.
Can LDES save the day?
While LDES is a crucial for the efficient use of renewable energy and integration into the grid, it is not without its challenges. Here are some examples:
- Limited efficiency, cost, and scalability. Developing storage solutions that can efficiently store large amounts of energy for extended durations while remaining cost-effective is a significant challenge.
- Certain LDES technologies, such as pumped hydro and large-scale battery installations, may require significant amounts of land. This can be challenging due to competing land-use priorities, environmental regulations, and community concerns.
- The production of advanced energy storage technologies often relies rare earth elements or minerals. Ensuring a sustainable and ethical supply chain for these materials is crucial to avoid environmental and social issues associated with resource extraction.
- The efficiency of storing and retrieving energy from LDES systems, known as round-trip efficiency, can vary among different technologies. Improving the overall efficiency of energy storage systems is essential to minimize energy losses during the storage and retrieval process.
- The upfront costs of implementing LDES technologies can be significant. Making these technologies economically viable and competitive will be an obstacle.
- Regulatory frameworks and policies may not always be conducive to the widespread deployment of LDES technologies. Clear and supportive policies are necessary to encourage investment and adoption of these storage solutions.
Addressing these challenges will require ongoing research, innovation, and collaboration among stakeholders, including government agencies, industry players, and the research community. It also creates an opportunity for investors.
While programs like the ESCG will go a long way to overcoming these problems, it will take private sector innovation to meet the challenge. There will be opportunities for investors to participate in LDES development. And that’s good news. LDES will be a critical part of the transition to a more sustainable and resilient energy system.
For the Good,
Michael Nichols
Numbers You Need to Know
100 MW/400 MWh
Capacity of the largest battery in the world. The Dalian flow battery uses a new battery technology that combines tanks of electrolytes to generate electrical current, rather than using the more widely-adopted lithium-ion technology.(History Computer)
750 MW/3,000 MWh
The Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility, the world’s largest lithium-ion battery energy storage system, has been expanded to 750 MW/3,000 MWh. (Electrek)
February 18
Is National Battery Day. This day marks the birthday of Alessandro Volta who is credited with inventing the electric battery. His pioneering work laid the foundation for the development of batteries and their subsequent role in powering our world.(Department of Energy)
What’s New in Sustainable Investing
The Cisco Foundation: Investing in Africa’s Clean Energy Transition
Cisco’s vision is the transition to clean energy is not just as a necessity, but as a catalyst for inclusive growth and digital innovation. With the Cisco Foundation’s $100 million Climate Commitment, they are investing wholeheartedly in this vision. (CSRWire)
Millennials and Gen Z are giving up on one of their core values and investing more like boomers
With inflation still high and ESG investing becoming a political target, fewer young investors are expressing strong concern about things like the environment and social issues, and they are also less willing to sacrifice investment gains in support of these initiatives. (Business Insider)
Video Of The Week
The Future Of Energy Storage Beyond Lithium Ion
Researchers are exploring other alternatives, including flow batteries, thermal batteries, and gravity-based systems