U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) recently led a bipartisan group of senators in introducing the Better Energy Storage Technology (BEST) Act, which supports grid-scale energy storage research and development.
“Next generation energy storage devices will help enhance the efficiency and reliability of our electric grid, reduce energy costs, and promote the adoption of renewable resources,” Collins said. “Our bipartisan legislation would help catalyze the development of this technology that holds great promise in the fight against climate change by supporting clean energy generation, including wind and solar.”
The bill aims to increase the affordability of energy storage technology by directing the Department of Energy (DOE) to pursue a strategic plan and implement cost targets. It also aims to accelerate testing and validation of energy storage systems through National Laboratories and requires coordination and alignment of the research efforts of DOE, National Laboratories, federal agencies, and end users.
The bill supports up to five demonstration projects and authorizes $60 million annually for the program from 2020 to 2024.
The program would focus on highly flexible power systems with a minimum duration of six hours and with a lifetime of at least 8,000 cycles of discharge at full output and 20 years of operation; long duration storage systems with power output of 10 to roughly 100 hours with a lifetime of at least 1,500 cycles and 20 years of operations; and seasonal storage systems that can store energy over several months and address seasonality concerns.
The program would be similar to DOE’s SunShot Initiative, which helped reduce the price of solar by approximately 75 percent in less than a decade.
“As a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, advocating for the research and development of long-term energy storage has been a top priority,” Heinrich said. “I am proud to join Senator Collins to introduce the Better Energy Storage Technology Act and invest in reshaping the power industry. This bipartisan legislation offers federal agencies and national labs the opportunity to modernize our energy grid with advanced storage technologies that can provide days, even months, of capacity. With advances in solar and wind energy, New Mexico remains a leader in the charge towards a clean energy future. This bill adds the extra spark to boost New Mexico power grids – with the potential to do the same around the globe.”
Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Martha McSally (R-AZ) and Angus King (I-ME) also sponsored the BEST Act.
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