The Future of Energy Storage

Addressing climate change—particularly at reasonable cost—will require advancements in a range of energy-related technologies. The Advanced Energy Technologies Series accompanies the work RFF researchers are undertaking to understand and examine the cost trajectories and future deployment potential of these technologies. On October 29, 2020, Resources for the Future hosted a discussion on the future of energy storage, which many experts look to as a critical complement to intermittent energy sources like solar and wind.

Energy storage expert Marc Chupka (Energy Storage Association) shared information on the current state of short-duration and long-duration storage technologies, what challenges remain in both development and deployment, and policy drivers impacting the future of energy storage in the United States. RFF Senior Fellow and Future of Power Initiative Director Karen Palmer then moderated a Q&A session. This event was geared toward audiences with some existing background knowledge of energy storage topics, although anyone interested in learning about the subject was welcome to attend.

Speakers

• Marc Chupka, Energy Storage Association
• Karen Palmer, Resources for the Future (moderator)

RFF’s Advanced Energy Technologies Project uses new research to incorporate a number of these advanced technologies into our E4ST power sector model, which offers a detailed representation of the grid and is widely used in policy analysis related to power sector decarbonization.

The related events series covers topics such as carbon capture and sequestration, advanced nuclear energy, enhanced geothermal systems, energy storage, and direct air capture. The series will conclude with two additional events, one focused on innovation-related policy developments in the United States, and one showcasing the results of RFF’s analysis of how various policy proposals will drive investment in and deployment of these technologies.