Light energy storage and other ultra-long-term energy storage technologies

What are long-duration energy storage technologies?

In this paper, we loosely define long-duration energy storage technologies as ones that at minimum can provide inter-day applications. Long-duration energy storage projects usually have large energy ratings, targeting different markets compared with many short duration energy storage projects.

How do you compare long-duration energy storage technologies (LDEs)?

Review commercially emerging long-duration energy storage technologies (LDES). Compare equivalent efficiency including idle losses for long duration storage. Compare land footprint that is critical to market entry and project deployment. Compare capital cost-duration curve.

Can energy storage technology help a grid with more renewable power?

Energy storage technologies with longer durations of 10 to 100 h could enable a grid with more renewable power, if the appropriate cost structure and performance—capital costs for power and energy, round-trip efficiency, self-discharge, etc.—can be realized.

What is long duration energy storage (LDEs)?

Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) is a type of energy storage system capable of discharging energy over long periods—ranging from several hours to days. When there’s an abundance of renewable energy, LDES allows us to store that surplus and use it during times when production dips.

How does the technology landscape affect long-duration energy storage?

The technology landscape may allow for a diverse range of storage applications based on land availability and duration need, which may be location dependent. These insights are valuable to guide the development of long-duration energy storage projects and inspire potential use cases for different long-duration energy storage technologies.

What is long-duration storage?

Long-duration storage is categorized as 8–12 h, where short-duration storage is categorized as 4 h or less. California Energy Commission The California Energy Commission in 2020 launched its own funding initiative for new LDES technologies, which it defined as 10 + hours .