What is the ultra-long energy storage movement

What is long-duration energy storage (LDEs)?

While the term long-duration energy storage (LDES) is often used for storage technologies with a power-to-energy ratio between 10 and 100 h, 1 we introduce the term ultra-long-duration energy storage (ULDES) for storage that can cover durations longer than 100 h (4 days) and thus act like a firm resource.

What drives the cost-effectiveness of long-duration storage technologies?

Moreover, the researchers conclude that energy storage capacity cost and discharge efficiency are the most critical drivers for the cost-effectiveness of long-duration storage technologies — for example, energy capacity cost becomes the largest cost driver as discharge duration increases.

Why do we need longer duration energy storage?

However, if wind and solar penetration rises to cover all demand in the absence of other generation technologies, longer duration energy storage becomes necessary to supply multiple days or weeks of dark wind lulls and seasonal variations in supply and demand, as well as to bridge years of low renewable production.

Can long-duration energy storage technologies solve the intermittency problem?

Long-duration energy storage technologies can be a solution to the intermittency problem of wind and solar power but estimating technology costs remains a challenge. New research identifies cost targets for long-duration storage technologies to make them competitive against different firm low-carbon generation technologies.

How long do energy storage systems last?

The length of energy storage technologies is divided into two categories: LDES systems can discharge power for many hours to days or even longer, while short-duration storage systems usually remove for a few minutes to a few hours. It is impossible to exaggerate the significance of LDES in reaching net zero.

Is long-duration storage a viable alternative to carbon-free or high-renewable power systems?

Even though long-duration storage could play a critical role in enabling carbon-free or high renewable power systems, the economics of long-duration storage technologies are not well understood.