Exploring the Future Energy Value of Long-Duration Energy Storage

Schleifer, Anna H.; Cohen, Stuart M.; Cole, Wesley; Denholm, Paul; Blair, Nate

doi:10.3390/en18071751

Exploring the Future Energy Value of Long-Duration Energy Storage

Journal Article · Mon Mar 31 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Energies

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/en18071751· OSTI ID:2563301

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National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

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.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Water Power Technologies Office; USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office; USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Strategic Analysis Team

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

OSTI ID:: 2563301

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA--6A40-92836; MainId:94618; UUID:d53c9493-56e6-40e9-a177-27309a4dd85c; MainAdminId:76718

Journal Information:: Energies, Journal Name: Energies Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 18; ISSN 1996-1073

Publisher:: MDPICopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
electric grid
electricity sector
energy arbitrage
energy storage
long-duration energy storage
planning and operation tools
price-taker modeling
renewable energy
roundtrip efficiency

Exploring the Future Energy Value of Long-Duration Energy Storage

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References (37)

Figures / Tables (12)

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