Exploring the Future Energy Value of Long-Duration Energy Storage
Long-duration energy storage is commonly viewed as a key technology for providing flexibility to the grid and broader energy systems over a multidecadal time frame. However, prior work has typically used present-day grid infrastructures to characterize the relationship between the duration and arbit...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Energies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/7/1751 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850188247027679232 |
|---|---|
| author | Anna H. Schleifer Stuart M. Cohen Wesley Cole Paul Denholm Nate Blair |
| author_facet | Anna H. Schleifer Stuart M. Cohen Wesley Cole Paul Denholm Nate Blair |
| author_sort | Anna H. Schleifer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Long-duration energy storage is commonly viewed as a key technology for providing flexibility to the grid and broader energy systems over a multidecadal time frame. However, prior work has typically used present-day grid infrastructures to characterize the relationship between the duration and arbitrage value of storage in electricity markets. This study leverages established National Renewable Energy Laboratory grid planning and operations tools, analysis, and data to execute a price-taker model of an energy storage system for several 8760 h price series representative of current and future contiguous United States grid infrastructures with varying shares of variable renewable energy (VRE). We find that the total value of energy storage typically increases with VRE shares, but any increase in the relative value of longer storage durations over time depends on the region and grid mix. Some regions see incremental value increasing notably, up to 20–40 h in 2050, while others do not. The negative effect of lower roundtrip efficiency on value is also found to be scenario-dependent, with the energy value in higher VRE scenarios being less sensitive to roundtrip efficiency and more supportive of longer storage durations. Long-duration storage value and deployment potential are a function of evolving electricity sector infrastructure, markets, and policy, making it critical to consistently revisit potential long-duration storage contributions to the grid. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-67214d76e9444d16b00cdda1ea71b079 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj-art-67214d76e9444d16b00cdda1ea71b0792025-08-20T02:15:55ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-03-01187175110.3390/en18071751Exploring the Future Energy Value of Long-Duration Energy StorageAnna H. Schleifer0Stuart M. Cohen1Wesley Cole2Paul Denholm3Nate Blair4National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401, USANational Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401, USANational Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401, USANational Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401, USANational Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401, USALong-duration energy storage is commonly viewed as a key technology for providing flexibility to the grid and broader energy systems over a multidecadal time frame. However, prior work has typically used present-day grid infrastructures to characterize the relationship between the duration and arbitrage value of storage in electricity markets. This study leverages established National Renewable Energy Laboratory grid planning and operations tools, analysis, and data to execute a price-taker model of an energy storage system for several 8760 h price series representative of current and future contiguous United States grid infrastructures with varying shares of variable renewable energy (VRE). We find that the total value of energy storage typically increases with VRE shares, but any increase in the relative value of longer storage durations over time depends on the region and grid mix. Some regions see incremental value increasing notably, up to 20–40 h in 2050, while others do not. The negative effect of lower roundtrip efficiency on value is also found to be scenario-dependent, with the energy value in higher VRE scenarios being less sensitive to roundtrip efficiency and more supportive of longer storage durations. Long-duration storage value and deployment potential are a function of evolving electricity sector infrastructure, markets, and policy, making it critical to consistently revisit potential long-duration storage contributions to the grid.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/7/1751electricity sectorenergy storageenergy arbitragerenewable energyprice-taker modelingelectric grid |
| spellingShingle | Anna H. Schleifer Stuart M. Cohen Wesley Cole Paul Denholm Nate Blair Exploring the Future Energy Value of Long-Duration Energy Storage Energies electricity sector energy storage energy arbitrage renewable energy price-taker modeling electric grid |
| title | Exploring the Future Energy Value of Long-Duration Energy Storage |
| title_full | Exploring the Future Energy Value of Long-Duration Energy Storage |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the Future Energy Value of Long-Duration Energy Storage |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the Future Energy Value of Long-Duration Energy Storage |
| title_short | Exploring the Future Energy Value of Long-Duration Energy Storage |
| title_sort | exploring the future energy value of long duration energy storage |
| topic | electricity sector energy storage energy arbitrage renewable energy price-taker modeling electric grid |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/7/1751 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT annahschleifer exploringthefutureenergyvalueoflongdurationenergystorage AT stuartmcohen exploringthefutureenergyvalueoflongdurationenergystorage AT wesleycole exploringthefutureenergyvalueoflongdurationenergystorage AT pauldenholm exploringthefutureenergyvalueoflongdurationenergystorage AT nateblair exploringthefutureenergyvalueoflongdurationenergystorage |