Challenges for new energy storage scale

What are the challenges associated with large-scale battery energy storage?

As discussed in this review, there are still numerous challenges associated with the integration of large-scale battery energy storage into the electric grid. These challenges range from scientific and technical issues, to policy issues limiting the ability to deploy this emergent technology, and even social challenges.

What is the energy storage Grand Challenge?

The Energy Storage Grand Challenge employs a use case framework to ensure storage technologies can cost-effectively meet specific needs, and it incorporates a broad range of technologies in several categories: electrochemical, electromechanical, thermal, flexible generation, flexible buildings, and power electronics.

How many GW of energy storage are there in 2022?

By the end of 2022 about 9 GW of energy storage had been added to the U.S. grid since 2010, adding to the roughly 23 GW of pumped storage hydropower (PSH) installed before that. Of the new storage capacity, more than 90% has a duration of 4 hours or less, and in the last few years, Li-ion batteries have provided about 99% of new capacity.

Why do we need large-scale energy storage?

With the growing global concern about climate change and the transition to renewable energy sources, there has been a growing need for large-scale energy storage than ever before.

Is grid-scale energy storage accelerating growth?

After a multidecade hiatus, there is growing deployment of grid-scale energy storage in the United States, as well as projections of accelerated growth. Much of the storage deployed in the past few years (and proposed for deployment in the next few years) is in the form of lithium-ion batteries typically with 4 hours or less of duration.

Should energy storage technologies be regulated?

However, with the ongoing rise of storage and smart grid technologies, there is an urgent need to reform electricity regulation and rules in most jurisdictions to adapt to the technological innovation. In brief, the issue raised by energy storage technologies is that of “regulatory adaptation to technological change.