Energy Storage

Exports May Be a Big Opportunity for U.S. Advanced Battery Manufacturers

Exports May Be a Big Opportunity for U.S. Advanced Battery Manufacturers

This post suggests that export markets exist for U.S. manufactured advanced batteries, in developing countries that have electric grids that are less developed and more prone to failure than the grids of advanced economies.

The Missing Grid Connected Energy Storage Strategy

The Missing Grid Connected Energy Storage Strategy

Examines the case for government leadership in promoting the development of distributed grid connected energy storage, arguing that government leadership is necessary in order to kick start this very important component of the robust electric energy infrastructure that is in our nations best interest. The author also argues that doing so will bring down electric vehicle battery costs and help promote EV adoption rates, which are inhibited by high unit costs driven by battery prices.

Storing Wind Energy as Hydrogen

Storing Wind Energy as Hydrogen

Makes the case for coupling hydrogen production with wind farms in order to deliver more dispatchable power; lessen the need for transmission capacity; as well as other important bottom line benefits.

On Electric Vehicle Usage and the Smart Grid

On Electric Vehicle Usage and the Smart Grid

Examines the subtleties of electric vehicle charging cycles, and the interactions with smart grid variable pricing, and the user’s own varying usage scenarios.

Fifteen Grid Scale Energy Storage Solutions to Watch

Fifteen Grid Scale Energy Storage Solutions to Watch

This post looks at fifteen kinds of utility or grid scale energy storage solutions that are either in wide use or have significant potential to supply the energy storage capacity that will help make the grid both more efficient and more robust. These range from pumped hydro, which is by far the most prevalent form of energy storage at this scale to compressed air, thermal storage, advanced batteries, fuel cells and purely electric storage systems.

Does Concentrated Solar Power Have the Answer to Intermittency Concerns?

Does Concentrated Solar Power Have the Answer to Intermittency Concerns?

In this post John outlines two developments in the thermosolar concentrated solar power (CSP) arena that are enabling CSP to fulfill the role of baseload suppliers. Molten salt energy storage is naturally suited for CSP facilities and is quite efficient as an energy store — both in terms of low loss and in terms of capital expenditures (compared with batteries for example). By storing power in this way CSP plants can continue delivering power even after the sun has gone down. In addition by pairing CSP with stand-by combined-cycle natural gas generators greater overall reliability can be achieved.

Rising Hopes that Electric Cars Can Play a Key Role on the Grid

Rising Hopes that Electric Cars Can Play a Key Role on the Grid

Will electric cars one day become part of a network of rechargeable batteries that can help smooth out the intermittent nature of wind and solar power? Many experts believe so, pointing to programs in Europe and the U.S. that demonstrate the promise of vehicle-to-grid technology.