Agency Ready to Work With Industry to Tackle Key Challenges

Washington, D.C. – The Electricity Storage Association (ESA) today praised the eagerly anticipated report from the Department of Energy (DOE) on Grid Energy Storage, noting that it affirms that wide-scale deployment of storage technologies in the U.S. and around the world is critical to maintaining a resilient, cost-effective electric grid. The report was provided to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee at the request of Committee Chairman Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), who raised the importance of storage during the confirmation of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz.

"The ESA is pleased that the Department of Energy will be providing analysis, tools, and opportunities for public-private partnerships--playing to the strengths of the agency while enhancing the ability of the energy storage industry to move forward with commercialization. The report certainly reinforces our view that storage is an essential component to a more resilient, reliable, and balanced energy grid. ESA believes that it is not a matter of whether storage will be deployed; it is a matter of how fast that occurs. Given the focus indicated in this report, DOE is poised to assist in those efforts," said Darrell Hayslip, Chairman of the Electricity Storage Association.

The report acknowledges that energy storage must play a crucial role in increasing grid resilience, improving overall operations and efficiency, lowering costs, and deferring additional infrastructure investment. While energy storage can provide a variety of functions and services, the DOE points to four key challenges to deployment of these technology solutions: cost reductions through increased revenue streams; validation of performance for reliability and safety; a level regulatory playing field; and overall industry acceptance.

"This is a pivotal time for the storage community and this report could not have been more timely. We thank Senator Wyden and Secretary Moniz for being true leaders in this field and look forward to working with them to address the challenges identified," said Hayslip.

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