Types of storage
Pumped hydro storage comprises 97% of all storage capacity in the United States. Water is pumped up a hill or into a pond or retention basin when power is at a low price. When it’s higher, the pond or retention basin is drained and the water runs through a turbine to make electricity. Huge volumes create many megawatts, but finding land to install new facilities is difficult.
The remaining 3% of U.S. storage capacity has been dominated recently by lithium-ion battery technology. Lithium-ion has captured both the power capacity markets (instantaneous power available from the battery) and energy capacity markets (megawatt hours available from the battery). It has become the technology of choice for these types of applications, due to its high-cycle efficiency and fast response time. The technology is available worldwide, offering high reliability and performance. It’s also great for short duration and long duration applications, which are the focus of bridge storage applications in the real world.
Trends in grid storage
New challenges in the energy industry have increased the need for flexible storage solutions. The grid is changing. And battery energy storage is becoming a highly effective tool to optimize energy systems and satisfy customers. Now more than ever, infrastructure customers need interconnected systems designed for lifecycle performance, energy flexibility and responsiveness.