Government policies can be adjusted to better support long-duration energy storage (LDES) by implementing several strategic measures aimed at overcoming technical, financial, and regulatory barriers, thus accelerating widespread adoption. Key policy adjustments include:
1. Establishing Federal and State Clean Energy Standards
- Implementing a nationwide Clean Energy Standard (CES) that sets ambitious targets for renewable energy penetration (e.g., 100% carbon-free energy by 2050) can significantly increase the demand for LDES. LDES becomes particularly valuable when renewable penetration exceeds 60%, as it helps balance the variability of renewable sources and enhances grid reliability.
2. Providing Financial Incentives and Funding
- Governments should increase funding for demonstration projects and pilot programs to prove commercial viability and reduce financial risks associated with innovative LDES technologies. Existing programs like the DOE’s Long-Duration Energy Storage Demonstrations Program and Pilot Program serve as models for such support.
3. Enhancing Technical Assistance and Regulatory Support
- Establish a technical assistance program to help states develop implementation plans, update Integrated Resource Plans (IRP), and set standards that integrate LDES into grid planning. This support would help utilities and regulators better model and value LDES technologies, facilitating smoother permitting and deployment.
4. Encouraging Diverse Technology Development
- Policies should support a broad range of LDES technologies (electrochemical, mechanical, chemical, thermal) to suit different regional needs and use cases. This diversity enhances resilience and maximizes benefits across varied grid conditions.
5. Aligning Energy Storage Policies with Grid Resilience and Decarbonization Goals
- Policymakers should explicitly recognize and reward LDES’s role in increasing grid reliability, resilience, and affordability, which are essential as grids incorporate larger shares of variable renewable energy. For example, integrating LDES targets into state IRPs, as California has done with its 15 GW energy storage target including LDES, sets a precedent for proactive policy incorporation.
Summary Table of Policy Adjustments
| Policy Measure | Purpose | Example/Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Nationwide Clean Energy Standard | Increase renewable penetration to boost LDES value | 100% carbon-free by 2050 goal |
| Funding Demonstrations and Pilots | Reduce risk and support commercialization | DOE LDES Demonstrations and Pilot Programs |
| Technical Assistance for States | Support IRP updates and regulatory integration | State planning support for LDES deployment |
| Support Diverse Technologies | Meet regional needs and enhance system resilience | Electrochemical, mechanical, chemical, thermal |
| Integrate LDES in Decarbonization Plans | Enhance grid reliability and resilience | California’s 15 GW storage target including LDES |
Adjusting policies along these lines will address current barriers and position LDES as a critical element in achieving a reliable, resilient, and decarbonized power grid by 2050.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-can-government-policies-be-adjusted-to-better-support-long-duration-energy-storage/
