According to the article in The Equation by the Union of Concerned Scientists, "Five Facts about Energy Storage that Every Californian Should Know," the state was ahead of 2020 plans for 1500 MW energy storage. The authors estimate that for California to reach a 100 percent clean energy future 10,000 to 20,000 MW would be needed by 2030, and 40,000 to 80,000 MW by 2050. "These ambitious estimates reflect the need for added energy storage that will ensure grid reliability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions as California transitions to 100 percent clean electricity."
The authors note the path forward won't be easy. "California will need to make storage a priority and find the budget funds to support expansion. If it doesn’t, the state may find it increasingly difficult to integrate storage technologies into the energy market at the rate required to meet its 2045 climate goals. The host of auxiliary benefits offered by storage, from energy transmission (transport) to pollution reduction. California will ultimately need storage to store more energy for longer periods of time – meaning storing power through the winter not just from midday to dinnertime – in order to support the shift to high levels of renewable generation that will be occurring by 2050. Current energy storage technologies are not well-suited to this task."
IPHROS remains a good idea to compliment California's current and future energy storage projects. IPHROS has auxiliary benefits since both energy storage and clean water are produced at the same time. To advance IPHROS as a viable energy storage idea estimates at various scales for a coastal California IPHROS site are needed by state energy experts.
Source: Online article by The Equation, published Oct 26, 2020. Link here; Five Facts about Energy Storage that Every Californian Should Know - Union of Concerned Scientists (ucsusa.org)
Comments