Decarbonizing the U.S. economy will require a significant increase in energy storage, so that clean, renewable energy can be used around the clock. Until the advent of affordable energy storage, fossil fuel generators were still needed to provide 24/7 power. However, nearly every major study shows that to decarbonize the electric sector, we need to develop the capacity to store clean energy for use when we need it.

Energy storage is a key technology to allow us to fully retire polluting natural gas, oil, and coal plants that emit harmful carbon dioxide and other polluting emissions. Energy storage is also key to maintaining power quality and resource adequacy as we add more renewable energy to the system. Energy storage provides balance to the grid, can support voltage, and smooth out power delivery in high-renewable scenarios.

Energy storage provides reliability and resilience during power outages

When the grid is down, energy storage can provide critical backup power to emergency shelters, hospitals, homes, businesses and even neighborhoods. When paired with solar, the power of energy storage to keep the lights on is enhanced because the batteries can recharge using solar even if the power outage lasts several days.

Energy storage can help manage bills and keep electric rates low

In many cases, storage can be used instead of traditional, costly, and slow investments in grid infrastructure. Utilities can use storage to increase capacity for new clean energy deployment, which can open up the benefits of clean energy to more customers. In states where net-metered electricity is billed based on “time-of-use” rates, like California and Hawaii, storage can help customers maximize the value of their solar system while providing valuable back-up power. Small resources, like home batteries, can be coordinated with grid needs to form “virtual power plants” that lower electric rates for everyone. Small businesses and industrial customers who pay high demand charges can use energy storage to save money on their electricity bills by using batteries to shift their loads away from peak times.

Over the next decade, the U.S. must dramatically ramp up standalone storage and solar + storage installations to achieve our economic and climate goals. Federal, state and local policy action is needed to unleash the potential of storage nationwide, and SEIA is leading that advocacy.