DOE sets goals for long duration energy storage

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is seeking to reduce the cost of grid-scale, long duration energy storage by 90 percent by 2030.

The plan, called the Long Duration Storage Shot, is part of the DOE’s Energy Earthshot Initiative. It seeks to accelerate breakthroughs in clean electricity storage to make it more abundant, affordable, and reliable.

“We’re going to bring hundreds of gigawatts of clean energy onto the grid over the next few years, and we need to be able to use that energy wherever and whenever it’s needed,” U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said. “That’s why DOE is working aggressively toward cheaper, longer duration energy storage to reach President Biden’s goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035. This new initiative will create new manufacturing jobs right here at home and make sure clean, reliable, affordable electricity is available to everyone, including Americans living in remote and underserved communities.”

Long duration energy storage systems are designed to store energy for more than 10 hours at a time. Cheaper and more efficient storage will make it easier to capture and store clean energy for use when energy generation is unavailable or lower than demand. As an example, it would allow for the storage of solar-generated power so that it can be used at night.

“Energy storage technology holds great promise in the fight against climate change. Strengthening current technology and advancing next-generation energy storage will allow us to integrate more renewables, such as wind and solar, which in turn will help to reduce emissions,” U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) said. “That’s why I authored the Better Energy Storage Technology Act, which seeks to align U.S. research efforts to promote advancements in energy storage technologies. It is exciting to see the Department of Energy begin implementing this new law through this initiative to substantially reduce the cost of energy storage technologies, improve the efficiency of our nation’s electricity grid, and bring us closer to a clean energy future.”

The DOEʻs Long Duration Storage Shot will consider all types of technologies, including electrochemical, mechanical, thermal, chemical carriers, or others. Currently, pumped-storage hydropower is the largest source of long duration energy storage on the grid. Also, lithium ion is a primary source for shorter duration storage capabilities.

“Long duration energy storage is the key that unlocks our clean energy future,” U.S. Sen. Angus King (I-ME) said. “In recent years, we’ve seen massive advances in renewable technologies, but the challenge remains: how do we power the grid when the wind stops blowing or the sun doesn’t shine? Cost-effective, energy-efficient storage systems will solve this problem and help ensure that the power generated during periods of low demand can be captured for moments of peak use. This investment is a critical step for our efforts to advance America’s technological leadership in this key field and confront climate change.”

DOE developed the Long Duration Storage Shot target through stakeholder engagement activities and input from subject matter experts.