Driven by an increasing share of renewable energy and e-mobility, the energy storage market is exhibiting substantial growth, which Apricum expects will continue for the foreseeable future. This not only presents new opportunities for energy storage system suppliers, but also for material and polymer players who can add substantial value to these emerging markets by providing tailored components to achieve performance, cost and safety improvements.

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A team of energy storage researchers based at Texas A&M University has identified a nanoscale bottleneck as the culprit behind low performance in lithium-ion batteries. The discovery could lead to the use of new, improved materials that enable a rechargeable battery to attain more of its maximum theoretical capacity and maintain it through more of its lifecycle.

Considering the widespread use of Li-ion energy storage tech, the discovery has significant implications for energy efficiency and energy conservation in the low-carbon economy of tomorrow.

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The market for energy storage systems for renewable energy integration is expected to reach 45.1 GW between 2015 to 2025, according to Navigant Research.

The new report from Navigant Research, Energy Storage for Renewables Integration, examines the market for energy storage systems for renewable energy integration (ESRI) — energy storage systems designed to mitigate somewhat the variability of renewable energy powerhouses like wind and solar, “By far the fastest-growing forms of renewable energy in the last several years.”

At present, the levels of wind and solar being fed into the grid are slight, and are not affecting the mechanics of a centralized electricity grid much. However, in years to come, as the percentage of wind and solar generating electricity into the grid increases, “serious issues regarding the grid’s stability can arise” — issues which can, in part, be solved by energy storage systems which help to level out the variability.

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The White House recently announced that a number of federal actions and commitments from the private sector could result in 1.3 GW of new energy storage installations or procurements over the next five years. It also said that — with all the potential procurements, deployments, and private sector activity — it could be possible the total value reached might be $1 billion in energy storage investments.

If the White House’s vision is achieved and 1.3 GW is added to current energy storage capacity in the US, there will have been quite a surge in the rate of installations. In the first quarter of 2016, about 18.3 MW was installed, so if that amount remains steady for each quarter, the annual total will be around 72 MW. The White House’s target, if achieved, would mean about 260 MW would be installed each year for 5 years, in addition to the amount from the other sources.

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Greensmith Energy recently announced that it has received 63 MW of energy storage orders, and that at the current pace, the company will install over 100 MW this year.

“The successful execution of this strategy has brought tremendous growth to the company in both grid-scale and behind-the-meter business. Beyond the cumulative megawatts delivered, Greensmith continues to invest in software innovation and integration capacity to serve a growing number of the largest power companies in the world. It is clear that 2016 is a momentous year for Greensmith and the energy storage industry as whole,” explained John Jung, the company’s CEO and President.

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U.S. Rep. Mike Honda, a Democrat from Silicon Valley, California, has introduced the Energy Storage for Grid Resilience and Modernization Act, otherwise known as H.R. 5350.

If the bill becomes law, it will provide a tax credit for home and business owners who purchase energy storage systems. The tax credit for both would be 30%, which is the same amount as the renewable energy tax credit. Factories would also be eligible under the proposed law.

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The Energy Storage Association recently announced it approves of the work the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is doing to support energy storage. FERC is conducting a review related to market barriers for energy storage. ESA says FERC is using a careful approach to helping energy storage expand in the marketplace.

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With Daimler AG’s stationary lithium-ion battery energy storage business now getting its feet, the company has gone ahead and established a new body — Mercedes-Benz Energy GmbH — to handle the development and global sale of Mercedes-branded energy storage products, according to a new press release from the company.

Production of these Mercedes-Benz energy storage products will remain “the core expertise of Daimler’s other wholly owned subsidiary, Deutsche ACCUMOTIVE GmbH & Company KG.”

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Energy Storage News – A new report titled “Closing the California Clean Energy Divide” has highlighted some key insights about the housing market in California as it relates to solar power and energy storage. California has done well in the installation of solar power systems, including some paired with energy storage technology. However, the affordable multifamily rental housing sector is currently not experiencing the same level of solar and energy storage installations.

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A new report has concluded that investment in energy storage technology is vital for the success of renewable energy and its full integration into the energy sector.

According to a new study published by researchers from the University of East Anglia (UAE), government subsidies should be used so as to encourage further investment in energy storage, without which the authors of the report believe renewable energy will struggle to be fully integrated into the energy sector. The inherent variable nature of leading renewable energy technologies such as wind and solar requires energy storage so as to compensate for times when the wind may not be blowing, or the sun may not be shining. Energy storage systems such as reversed hydro power plants, large scale compressed air systems, and battery storage, are quickly being seen to be a vital companion to most, if not all, renewable energy technology installations.

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