Numbers Show Energy Efficiency Beats Big Storage

NREL Researchers Point Toward Energy Efficiency Instead Of Long-Term Storage

November 3, 2021 (National Renewable Energy Laboratory via CleanTechnica)

“Incorporating energy efficiency measures can reduce the amount of storage needed to power the nation’s buildings entirely with renewable energy, according to analysis conducted by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)… Optimal Strategies for a Cost-Effective and Reliable 100% Renewable Electrical Grid considered solar and wind as the source of renewable energy…[in] five climate zones, ranging from the hot and humid (Tampa, Florida) to the very cold (International Falls, Minnesota)…

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Knowing the extremes of heating and cooling demands in each zone enabled the researchers to select the appropriate mix of renewable power sources to minimize [long-duration energy storage needs]…[Most] long-duration storage technologies are either immature or not available everywhere…[R]eaching the last 75% to 100% of renewable energy would result in significant increases in costs associated with long-duration energy storage.

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Instead of focusing on storage, the researchers emphasized the optimal mix of renewable resources, oversized generation capacities, and investments in energy efficiency…[M]ultiple pathways exist…and, as the costs and performance of technologies change, new pathways will emerge, but…oversizing renewable capacities by a factor of 1.4 to 3.2 and aiming for 52% to 68% in energy savings through building energy-efficiency measures lead to cost-optimal paths…” click here for more

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