Will McNamara, Energy Storage Policy Analyst at Sandia National Laboratories, delivered a presentation to the Energy Storage Working Group of the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. The presentation was focused on Sandia’s current work related to long-duration energy storage (LDES), specifically its role as the Lead Lab in the DOE-funded LDES National Consortium project, a three-year initiative that commenced in January. Will’s presentation covered the following: 1) decarbonization and the role of energy storage; 2) the need for new storage technologies, beyond four-hour lithium-ion batteries; 3) LDES technologies and applications; 4) commercialization challenges & recommendations facing LDES technologies; and 5) an introduction to the LDES National Consortium with an invitation for SEPA members to join as Teaming Partners.
SEPA is a nonprofit organization that envisions a carbon-free energy system that is safe, affordable, reliable, resilient and equitable. Its mission is to accelerate the electric power industry’s transformation to a modern energy future through education, research, standards, and collaboration. SEPA has over 1,000 members (including 700+ utilities) who continuously rely on us to make smart clean and modern energy choices. Thus, Will’s presentation to this Energy Storage Working Group within SEPA promoted the work of Sandia and the LDES National Consortium to a broad audience of significant stakeholders in the industry.
The presentation highlighted the work that Will is leading that is focuses on addressing the wide range of challenges facing LDES technologies and addressing these challenges with specific, actionable recommendations to create a pathway toward commercialization for these technologies over the next decade. Will characterized addressing these challenges as extremely important as decarbonization goals being adopted across the US will not be achievable without large increases in the amount of LDES that is deployed.
This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Electricity (OE), Energy Storage Division and the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Technology Transitions, and the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations.