Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES)

Long duration energy storage (LDES) is now pushing its way into mainstream evaluation as the grid adapts to the radical shift from traditional baseload generation to renewable energy resources.  Though Lithium-Ion technologies continue to hold sway in the short duration arena, concerns about raw material supplies, operating characteristics, scalability and safety will impact their expansion into LDES territory.

This course explores the growing need for long duration energy storage and how it fits with the grid operating requirements of utilities, ISOs and RTOs.  The program will examine how policymakers, regulators and power organizations are influencing the advance of long duration energy storage. Specific types and technologies of long duration storage will be discussed and evaluated, including relative costs and capabilities of different technologies. Finally, the symposium will consider the trajectory of how and when these energy storage solutions can provide the essential bridging functions to 24-hour/7-day/365-day (8760) renewable energy grid operations.

• Review the history and background of energy storage
• Discuss what long duration is today and what will it be when renewables provide 50% of the total energy
• Discuss the growing need for long duration energy storage to accommodate the growing increase of renewable generation on the grid
• Illustrate the applications for energy storage across the energy industry
• Review the policy and regulatory environment for long duration storage
• Identify the various long duration storage technologies, including pumped storage, flow and non-lithium batteries, gravity and hydrogen
• Review several long duration storage pilot projects and case studies
• Assess the relative costs and capabilities of different technologies
• Examine the future outlook and projected outcomes for long duration storage in the next decade or more