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Energy storage entrepreneurs are looking beyond batteries to support future grid-scale, long-duration-capable systems. Another technology area of interest for the Energy Storage Innovations prize is electromechanical energy storage.
Mechanical storage systems use mechanical methods to convert and store electrical energy. These systems include pumped water, compressed air, spinning flywheels, and emerging gravity storage systems. –Energy Storage Grand Challenge
Each mechanical energy storage technology area offers unique advantages to the capacity, lifetime, and/or durability of long-duration storage systems. While most mechanical energy storage systems utilize well-established materials and technologies, future designs must accommodate the electric grid’s increasingly variable supply and demand. In addition, efforts to improve mechanical energy storage systems must focus on lowering manufacturing costs and improving safety for new system designs.
Although compressed-air technologies are not of interest to this prize, new ideas within the following emerging areas may apply:
- Liquid air
- Flywheels
- Geomechanical
- Pumped-storage hydropower
- Gravitational
Example Research: Pumped-Storage Hydropower (PSH)
A type of hydroelectric energy storage, PSH systems consist of two water reservoirs at different elevations that generate power through the movement of water. PSH acts similarly to a giant battery because it can store energy from renewable resources—such as wind or solar—and then release it when needed. PSH is the oldest form of energy storage and makes up over 90% of the world’s grid-scale energy storage applications, with 43 plants here in the U.S.
Despite the maturity of this technology, innovations are needed to meet DOE’s decarbonization goals. Currently, PSH faces long construction lead times, high capital costs, and geographic restrictions. New research at DOE’s national laboratories is developing non-traditional PSH configurations using mine shafts, aquifers, or integrated designs to reduce the geographical footprint and improve the capacity utilization of these systems. The Energy Storage Innovation prize is seeking additional nascent or emerging technology ideas that may help redefine traditional PSH.
