Emerging Energy Storage Technologies

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Advanced, effective, and efficient energy storage technologies are critical elements of achieving the Biden administration’s 2035 power decarbonization goal.  And, it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach – a mix of technology will be needed over the next 10 years.  As such, various suppliers have emerged as legitimate players in the industry.

4 Energy Storage Technologies Poised to Make Waves Going Forward

A recent Utility Dive article identified the top-4 storage technologies that seem to be paving the way for the transition into a decarbonized environment.  What follows is a brief overview of each.  Click on the Utility Dive article link above for more detail.

• Zinc-based batteries: These batteries are an improvement over the lithium-ion variety because they can store power for longer periods of time, they are non-flammable, can operate efficiently under a wide range of conditions, provide size flexibility, and they typically last for 20 or more years (which correlates nicely with the typical 20–30-year lifespan of a clean energy plant). Eos Energy is a key company highlighted in the article.
• Iron-air batteries: About the size of a washer and dryer set, this technology includes iron and air electrodes and utilizes a process called “reversible rusting.” Key benefits are that the active components are plentiful and inexpensive, and the technology can store power for 100 hours.  Form Energy is a key company highlighted in the article.
• Hydrogen energy storage: This technology is used to create so-called green hydrogen, which can be stored indefinitely until it is converted back to electricity. California-based PG&E recently deployed a hybrid battery energy storage and hydrogen fuel cell microgrid that can store power for up to 96 hours, but future iterations of this technology have the possibility of storing energy for much longer periods.  Energy Vault is a key company highlighted in the article.
• Gravity-based storage: This system mechanically moves composite blocks vertically that are made from soil and waste materials to store and dispatch energy. It can store energy for up to 24 hours and has a 35-year lifespan.  Here again, Energy Vault is a key company highlighted in the article.

So, there you have it – a list of 4 energy storage technologies that could help the U.S. achieve its aggressive clean energy goals.