Extending the Flexibility of Energy Storage With Julia Souder, LDESC
Aug 13, 2024
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Julia Souder, CEO of the Long Duration Energy Storage Council with a creative background in the energy sector, shares her insights on advancing long-duration energy storage (LDES). She highlights California’s initiatives to achieve a gigawatt of LDES by 2030 and discusses the challenges in diversifying storage technologies. The link between energy security and national security is emphasized, considering historical blackouts and innovative military practices. Julia underscores the critical role of LDES in meeting renewable energy goals and the need for effective policy changes to promote sustainability.
Long duration energy storage (LDES) is essential for transitioning to a renewable energy future, providing stability during variable generation periods.
California's ambitious policy initiatives, including a one gigawatt LDES goal by 2030, exemplify proactive approaches to enhance grid reliability and decarbonization.
Deep dives
The Importance of Long Duration Energy Storage
Long duration energy storage (LDES) is essential for providing reliability and flexibility in energy systems, particularly during periods of variable renewable energy generation. This type of storage can sustain energy production for durations exceeding eight hours, making it vital for meeting energy demands when wind and solar resources are not available. By extending energy availability from daily to seasonal needs, LDES supports the ongoing transition away from fossil fuels and aids in decarbonization efforts globally. The necessity of diverse energy storage solutions is underlined by climate challenges, where communities increasingly face extreme weather events, emphasizing the urgency of effective long-duration strategies.
California's Leadership in Long Duration Storage
California has taken a pioneering approach in integrating long duration energy storage as a critical component for grid reliability, being the first state to formally recognize its necessity. The California Public Utilities Commission has set ambitious targets, including a goal of one gigawatt of LDES by 2030, spurring utilities to adopt various storage technologies and diversify their resource portfolios. The state's regulatory environment aims to incentivize development and deployment of storage solutions that can endure beyond traditional lithium-ion battery timeframes, thus ensuring energy availability during extended periods of high demand. This proactive approach serves as a model for other regions, illustrating the need for policy frameworks that foster the growth of diverse energy storage technologies.
Diversity of Technologies in Long Duration Storage
Long duration energy storage encompasses a wide array of technologies, emphasizing the importance of diverse solutions to meet energy demands sustainably and reliably. Various storage methods, including thermal, mechanical, and electrochemical systems, provide opportunities to harness energy over extended periods, thus enhancing system resilience against multi-day weather events. Innovations such as pumped hydro storage, compressed air, and emerging battery chemistries, such as vanadium and zinc, illustrate the versatility within the LDES landscape. Addressing energy security concerns, particularly for military applications and remote communities, highlights how embracing an array of storage options can enhance overall national security and decarbonization efforts.
In this episode of the Battery + Storage Podcast, host Bill Derasmo speaks with Julia Souder, CEO of the Long Duration Energy Storage Council (LDESC). Julia shares her creative background in the energy sector, which has fueled her passion and commitment to advancing long-duration energy storage (LDES) and promoting renewable energy. The discussion covers the challenges and opportunities for LDES, highlighting California's leadership and initiatives, such as the California Public Utilities Commission's goal of achieving one gigawatt of LDES by 2030. Tune in to learn about the future of energy storage, the diverse technologies involved, and the importance of continued advocacy and policy support in achieving decarbonization goals.
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