Large-Scale Energy Storage

Large-scale energy storage projects are fast-starting, quick-ramping, high-capacity resources that can help balance peak loads and enhance clean-energy resources’ ability to meet the needs of the electric grid. Strategic bulk-storage investments will allow us to park surplus renewable energy for times of low supply, and provide flexibility to the grid without burning fossil fuels. CEERT vigorously advocates for large-scale storage at the CAISO and in CPUC procurement rulemakings.

Recent Developments:

CEERT supported the CPUC requiring procurement of 1,000 megawatts of long-duration energy storage as part of the midterm reliability procurement decision. However, the time frame for when the projects are needed is unlikely to be met, given lengthy regulatory approval processes and the need for load-serving entities to coordinate or carry out joint procurements.

CEERT had recent meetings with a consultant to the new joint procurement entity that several Community Choice Aggregators established, and discussed possible procurement strategies for LDS. We also met with a potential developer of a 500 MW LDS project at an existing reservoir. V. John White participated in a meeting of the California Water Commission to urge greater efforts at maximizing utilization of the State Water Project’s pumped storage capacity and potential demand response from pumping loads, and for the SWP to better align its billions of dollars in capital investment with the climate and clean energy needs of California. We also participated in discussions with LDS developers and academic experts about the need to develop a diverse portfolio of seasonal and multiday storage technologies and projects, and the potential of recent budget appropriations to be allocated to LDS demonstration projects.