{"id":293985,"date":"2023-06-29T22:59:18","date_gmt":"2023-06-29T22:59:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/?p=293985"},"modified":"2024-01-04T00:16:36","modified_gmt":"2024-01-04T00:16:36","slug":"exploring-energy-storage-part-3-how-can-storage-help-modernize-the-grid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/us\/news\/exploring-energy-storage-part-3-how-can-storage-help-modernize-the-grid\/","title":{"rendered":"Exploring energy storage part 3: How can storage help modernize the grid?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Exploring energy storage part 3<\/h1>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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How can storage help modernize the grid?<\/h2>\n

One of the hottest topics at the recent conferences I\u2019ve attended is how we incorporate energy storage \u2013\u00a0either the 2\u20134 hour types of storage or longer duration \u2013 into the much-needed modernization plan for our electrical grid.<\/p>\n

The U.S. grid is a network of\u00a0more than 600,000 miles of transmission lines, power stations and switches that move electricity from one part of the country to another<\/a>. However, as we deal with growing demand for electricity, re-occurring extreme weather events, cybersecurity, and the integration of more renewable energy, the flaws in our outdated grid have been exposed, as it\u2019s also being pushed to do more than it was originally designed to handle. Our grid must be flexible and smarter as our energy mix continues to evolve for a more sustainable and secure future,\u00a0with a focus on shifting toward sustainable renewable energy sources<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Currently, because of this, we have a backlog of renewable energy projects that are fully developed but can\u2019t connect to the grid, because of a lack of grid capacity.<\/p>\n

We can\u2019t modernize the grid without storage.<\/p>\n

Grid modernization means optimizing power delivery and enhancing resilience, by implementing new interactive capabilities to allow the system to respond to change more easily. This can be achieved by building more transmission lines and smarter infrastructure to deliver electricity from where it\u2019s produced to where it\u2019s needed most.<\/p>\n

As the\u00a0Los Angeles Times reported<\/a>, \u201cfor [renewable energy sources] to supply ever-larger amounts of electricity \u2014 and replace the coal, oil and natural gas cooking the planet \u2014 the United States will need a lot more transmission lines, to carry renewable electricity from the nation\u2019s sunniest, windiest places to the big cities that suck up huge amounts of power.\u201d<\/p>\n

The U.S. Department of Energy \u201cPathways to Commercial Liftoff<\/a>\u201d report on Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) determined the U.S. grid may need 225-460 GW (ranging from 12-150 hours of duration) of LDES capacity for a net zero economy by 2050, representing $330B in cumulative capital. This can include a mix of short duration storage to support shorter term grid requirements.<\/p>\n

According to Navigant Research<\/a>, a total of 35.5 GW of new energy storage (with varying duration)\u00a0will be built by the end of 2027. They estimate that 25 percent of that storage capacity will focus specifically on grid modernization.<\/p>\n

To achieve the 2050 goal means that the sprint is on now, and we are seeing examples of progress from the solar industry and state and federal governments. For example:<\/p>\n