Challenges of Electricity Storage Technologies

Advanced electricity storage technologies have potential for significant environmental, economic and energy diversity benefits: Reducing the Need for Reserve Power Plants; Cutting the Cost of Power Failures; Enabling Renewable Energy.

There are currently six promising energy storage technologies: pumped hydropower, compressed air energy storage, batteries, flywheels, superconducting magnetic energy storage, and electrochemical capacitors.

Given the potential environmental and economic benefits of electricity storage technologies, DOE should consider broadening the existing program. For a broader program to be successful, it must achieve a balance among basic research, demonstration projects, and regulatory incentives.

APS