DOE seeks public input on formulation of $505M long duration energy storage initiative

As an extension of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will be rolling out the Long Duration Energy Storage for Everyone, Everywhere Initiative, a $505 million effort to increase the availability and affordability of long term energy storage – but first it wants public input on the process.

A request for information, issued by the department last week, seeks feedback on the DOE’s implementation strategy and any eligibility requirements for the program. Once established, Everyone, Everywhere will push to advance the commercial deployment of storage systems by making them cheaper and longer-lasting. This, the department added, could increase local control of the power system, strengthen resilience, reduce power grid disruptions and support the current administration’s fully clean electricity goal set for 2035.

“The ability to move cheaper, cleaner electricity where and when it is needed most is the linchpin to a reliable energy grid and critical to meeting President Biden’s clean energy goals,” Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said. “The Long Duration Energy Storage for Everyone, Everywhere initiative leverages the expertise of the Department, National Labs, and industry to drive next-generation energy storage — making solar power available when the sun isn’t shining and keeping wind energy on tap when there’s no breeze.”

While energy storage is being increasingly deployed to support the increased renewable energy transition, its capabilities are generally restricted to a few hours of overall use. Longer duration storage implies systems capable of storing energy for more than 10 hours at a time, improving the flexibility and reliability of the grid at large. This would also potentially make storage technology itself cheaper, with greater ability to meet demand when normal generation is unavailable or lower in demand.

Investments will be made over four years. Funding will be split among three categories: 

1. Demonstration: This will focus on promising, lab-tested 100 kW scale or less technologies prepared for utility-scale demonstration.
2. Validation: This will enable first-of-a-kind technologies for utility-scale through risk mitigation during the final technical validation point, proving storage systems to be capable of providing at least 10 hours of rated power with a levelized cost of storage of $0.05/kWh.
3. Piloting: The department will use pilot grants to enable greater storage investment by eligible government, private and academic entities, reducing institutional barriers to funding.

As to the request for information, all comments are due by June 16, 2022.