New York Times Highlights Emerging Energy Storage Innovations

With the rapid growth of wind energy and demand for renewable energy sources, electricity providers are working with innovative companies to develop and implement energy storage solutions, according to a recent article by New York Times reporter Matthew Wald.
 
COMPETE members Beacon Power Corp. (which is building a 20-megawatt [MW] flywheel-based energy storage facility in New York) and PSEG’s Energy Storage and Power (which is developing compressed air energy storage), to name just a few, are developing pioneering technologies that store off-peak energy for release when needed during peak demand hours. In addition, PJM Interconnection, the nation’s largest grid operator, has been using a 1-MW array of lithium-ion batteries to store and discharge power as needed to balance electricity supply and demand. The battery array is being used innovatively as the anchor for a PJM pilot project with the University of Delaware evaluating the market integration of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

Energy storage offers numerous benefits, most notably encouraging greater use of renewable energy sources.  For example, the wind often blows strongest at night when electricity demand is low. Storage technologies allow the power generated at night to be stored for use during periods of high demand.
 
As we’ve noted previously, competitive electricity markets encourage innovative solutions required to meet America's electricity needs and environmental objectives. Innovative technologies like energy storage solutions give generators and consumers alike more reliability and options.

Joel Malina | August 4, 2010