The Sacramento Municipal Utility District’s innovative energy storage project, designed to provide up to 2 GWh of iron flow battery capacity in partnership with ESS Tech, Inc., has received a significant financial injection from the California Energy Commission, highlighting the state’s commitment to advancing renewable energy technologies and grid stability.
California continues to be a frontrunner in renewable energy integration with the latest development in energy storage technology. A new initiative by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), in partnership with ESS Tech, Inc., is set to implement a 2 GWh iron flow battery facility. Supported by a $10 million grant from the California Energy Commission, this project is a significant advance in long-duration battery energy storage (LDES), an area in which flow batteries have previously seen commercial success due to their durability and safety.
The project is an important part of SMUD’s commitment to achieving its carbon neutrality goal by 2030. It aims to exemplify the efficiency and reliability of iron flow technology in both grid distribution and transmission systems. This particular model of energy storage is essential for optimizing the use of renewable sources, as it can harmonize surplus energy generation with periods of high electricity demand.
ESS Tech, established in 2011, creates iron flow batteries with commonplace elements like iron, salt, and water, offering sustainable storage solutions for various applications including renewable energy plants. These products can deliver energy for up to twelve hours, accommodating flexible energy demands. ESS’s designs boast 25 years of lifespan with over 20,000 cycles, promising robust and sustainable energy solutions.
The focus of the recent grant is to develop a 3.6 MW, eight-hour iron flow battery that lays the foundation for large-scale energy storage, bringing the technology to a scale suitable for industrial use. SMUD’s collaborative efforts with ESS Tech are yielding insights through continuous analysis and testing of the already delivered Energy Warehouse systems, shaping future strategies in battery application and aligning with lithium-ion competitiveness for extended durations.
ESS Tech has also progressed in reducing costs, increasing energy density, and earning necessary certifications, showing enhanced viability as a scalable energy storage solution.
These strides in storage technology not only enable more efficient land use for energy infrastructure but place California at the cusp of meeting large-scale renewable energy requirements. Industry trends suggest a rising demand for hourly power purchase agreements, which is a step towards marrying 24/7 clean energy procurement and market demands for tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta. Collectively, these developments mark a pivotal moment for the LDES industry.
