Energy storage can help smooth out the variability of renewable generation, responding to supply requests from electric grid operators without disrupting or curtailing renewable power plant output.
Energy storage systems come in all sizes and power capacities. EIA collects data on small-scale battery ESSs as well as utility scale and large thermal ice storage solutions.
Cost
Energy storage allows us to store and access electricity when needed – such as during an outage or when the sun doesn’t shine as brightly. Furthermore, energy storage helps us reduce demand from polluting peaker plants which often serve lower income communities.
In the US, large-scale battery energy storage is operated by organizations charged with maintaining grid balancing services like Independent System Operators or Regional Transmission Organizations. It often partners with solar photovoltaic systems to maximize solar’s value of generated electricity; researchers are working on long-duration energy storage technologies capable of providing power up to 100 hours.
Energy storage systems allow residential and commercial electricity customers to save electricity from either the grid or renewables for later use, thus lowering energy bills and mitigating peak consumption charges associated with utility demand-side management programs.
Reliability
Energy storage solutions can improve reliability and resilience in electricity systems by increasing grid efficiency and resilience, matching supply with demand and improving power quality. Many technologies exist that store electricity for later use – these include pumped-storage hydropower (which involves pumping water from one reservoir to the other to spin turbines and generate electricity), lithium-ion rechargeable batteries (including lithium-ion technology), thermal storage using molten salt solutions, compressed air energy storage (including flywheels and superconducting magnetic storage), flywheels and superconducing magnetic storage (to name just a few).
Energy storage can save utilities money by storing low-cost energy during low rates periods and then discharging it later at higher electricity rates, when peak periods come around. Furthermore, it can prevent costly property damage caused by power outages by providing backup power during blackouts. Customers with behind-the-meter battery systems that aggregate into larger networks can even “island” themselves from the grid when there’s an outage, using their own clean energy to power their homes or offices during those outages.
Flexibility
Similar to smartphones with battery backups, energy storage systems provide electricity when necessary and help provide grid flexibility, such as reducing peak demand during hot summer days. They can also help improve economic efficiency of generation when combined with renewables or other power sources.
Contrary to fossil fuels, energy storage technologies offer cost-effective decarbonization while simultaneously guaranteeing reliability – an integral component for integrating renewables and creating a 100% clean energy future.
Energy storage can improve grid reliability by eliminating costly peaker plants. Furthermore, energy storage can prevent price spikes by absorbing surplus energy during times of high demand.
Energy storage systems (ESSs) vary widely in their ability to deliver electricity; batteries, flywheels and pumped hydro offer diurnal storage while compressed air systems support short duration storage needs. Furthermore, energy storage can help build community resilience by providing backup power during disruptions of key services such as communication infrastructure.
Safety
As fires related to battery energy storage are generally rare, they can usually be managed and resolved with minimal damage to surrounding communities. According to a report commissioned by the American Clean Power Association, BESS fires pose no long-term threats as smoke dissipates quickly, soil contamination remains limited, and many BESSs are co-located with solar PV or wind projects which provide electricity directly for their facilities.
Energy storage is an innovative technology with a rapidly expanding industry that now employs 72,000 Americans in the U.S. It provides significant advantages to families and businesses by lowering costs, improving grid reliability, providing backup power during blackouts, enhancing grid resilience and providing back-up power during emergencies – not to mention potential cost savings and back-up power during blackouts. As technology progresses and regulations adopt best practices, safety will only improve further.