Why is energy storage important for securing additional sources of renewable energy?
Fluctuating electricity demands strain our electrical grid, and maintaining grid stability is invaluable for the expansion of intermittent forms of renewable energy. If the wind drops suddenly or electricity demand spikes unexpectedly the system must have resources at its disposal that can be dispatched in order to avoid grid instability. This is commonly accomplished with traditional hydropower or natural gas fired simple cycle generation. Energy storage provides the same benefits, but without carbon emissions or environmental tradeoffs. The presidential administration has called for the construction of a “smart grid” that will allow distant sources of renewable energy (such as wind power in the mid-western states) to be connected to consumers in major metropolitan areas. Energy storage supports this goal in two important ways. • Energy storage can provide transmission stabilization to areas with valuable renewable energy resources, but geographically isolated electrical grids. This r
