DeepSummary
The podcast episode features an interview with Dr. Elena Krieger, an expert on energy storage, discussing the different types of energy storage technologies like pumped hydro and batteries, and their advantages and applications in integrating renewable energy sources into the grid. They discuss the value of distributed solar and energy storage for underserved communities, highlighting financing, education, and policy challenges that need to be addressed.
Dr. Krieger explains how energy storage enhances grid flexibility, enabling better integration of variable renewable sources like wind and solar. She shares exciting developments like utility-scale batteries replacing gas peaker plants and the potential for distributed energy storage to provide backup power during outages, particularly for vulnerable communities.
The conversation covers emerging long-duration storage technologies like flow batteries, and the broader grid modernization efforts to create a responsive, optimized system integrating various flexible resources like energy storage, electric vehicles, and smart appliances. Dr. Krieger expresses enthusiasm for the rapid cost declines making these technologies competitive and enabling the transition to renewable energy.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Energy storage technologies like pumped hydro, batteries, and thermal storage play a crucial role in integrating renewable energy sources into the grid by providing flexibility to match supply and demand.
- Distributed energy storage solutions like residential batteries can enhance resilience by providing backup power during outages, particularly benefiting vulnerable communities.
- There are significant disparities in access to clean energy like rooftop solar between disadvantaged and affluent communities, requiring policy solutions to address financing, education, and other barriers.
- Emerging long-duration storage technologies like flow batteries and the broader modernization of the grid into a flexible, optimized system integrating various resources are key to enabling higher renewable energy penetration.
- Utility-scale battery deployments are accelerating, in some cases replacing gas peaker plants, driven by rapid cost declines in lithium-ion battery technology.
- Energy storage can provide multiple value streams like frequency regulation, deferring grid upgrades, and backup power, enhancing its economic competitiveness.
- Effective integration of distributed energy resources like rooftop solar, batteries, and smart appliances requires sophisticated optimization and coordination enabled by grid modernization efforts.
- Dr. Krieger expresses enthusiasm for the transformative potential of emerging energy storage and grid modernization technologies in enabling the transition to renewable energy.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “What's actually kind of fascinating is that more than 90% of the energy storage currently on the grid is in the form of pumped hydrogen.“ by Elena Krieger
- “What we found was that what California designates as the most disadvantaged communities have an 8th of the solar adoption rate as the least disadvantaged communities. And so that means that you have a lack of access to clean energy among your most disadvantaged communities.“ by Elena Krieger
- “So distributed energy storage has the potential to provide backup when we have outages, whether it's a public safety power shut off or an actual wildfire or an earthquake or some other kind of emergency, that energy storage can provide backup, particularly for those most vulnerable populations.“ by Elena Krieger
- “The standard grid has, you know, your electric supply on one end and your electric demand on another. And what we're trying to do is overhaul the grid entirely so that everything is flexible and responsive, so that when you use your electricity is responsive to when you have change in your supply of electricity.“ by Elena Krieger
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Episode Information
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KKFI Community Podcasts
9/8/20