WHAT:
The Subcommittee on Energy, chaired by Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), held a hearing today on the growth of large-scale energy storage in the United States, the unique reliability attributes energy storage provides for the electric grid, and the use and impacts of energy storage within wholesale electricity markets. Today’s hearing marked the eleventh hearing as part of the committee’s ‘Powering America ’ series and was held on the series’ one-year anniversary.
WHY:
“Electricity is a fundamental and essential part of our everyday lives, and the interruption of which has far-reaching impacts on our livelihoods, health, welfare, and national security," said #SubEnergy Chairman Upton. “This is why it is important to utilize all forms of tools and technologies, including energy storage, to help ensure our nation’s electric grid is reliable and resilient."
“The potential benefits of battery storage are substantial," said Full Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR). “Batteries allow us to store energy when demand and prices are low and then release that energy when demand and prices are high. This not only optimizes the way our electricity system works, it also lowers electricity costs, meaning that American families can keep more money in their pockets after paying their monthly electricity bills."
WHO:
* Keith E. Casey, Vice President, Market and Infrastructure Development, California ISO (Opening Statement )
* Mark Frigo, Vice President and Head of Energy Storage, E.ON North America (Opening Statement )
* Kiran Kumaraswamy, Market Applications Director, Fluence (Opening Statement )
* Zachary Kuznar, Director, CHP Microgrid and Energy Storage Development, Duke Energy Corporation (Opening Statement )
* Kushal Patel, Partner, Energy and Environmental Economics, Incorporated (Opening Statement )
“We think that energy storage is a way more cost-effective option because it’s able to provide the peaking capacity for when you actually need it for the electric grid, but it’s also able to provide a whole range of other services that the grid needs because energy storage assets are connected to the grid 24/7 in comparison to a natural gas fire peaking plant, which needs to be started up and shut down." - Mr. Kiran Kumaraswamy
“When we look at our makeup as whole we don’t look at storage as a replacement for baseload generation - that’s still extremely important for our business, but it provides us these abilities to improve our reliability for rural communities, deal with frequency regulation, help us integrate solar, and provide some peaking needs as well." - Dr. Zachary Kuznar
“Every air conditioner in Texas is cranking right now hard. We’re having 100-degree days all over the state. We’ve had those for a couple weeks and there’s no end in sight. Our ERCOT power grid is under severe stress, our reserve margins are lower, and we’ve had some big retirements. Three days ago, we set a record for July power - 70 gigs of power. This week, we may break that record. ERCOT says we might hit 74 or 75 gigs - that’s huge. Reliability can be a hypothetical at times, but right now at home it’s as real as it gets. If the power goes out that effects people on the extremes. The extremely young to the extremely old to the extremely sick - it’s life-threatening to them if the power goes out." - Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX)
RESOURCES:
The Majority Memorandum, witness testimony, and an archived webcast are available online HERE.
Information on the ‘Powering America’ series can be found HERE.
