Energy Storage Technologies: State of Development for Stationary and Vehicular Applications

Opening Statement By Chairman Bart Gordon

Thank you Chairman Lampson. I am very pleased that the Energy and Environment Subcommittee is holding this hearing today to receive testimony on what I view to be a critical objective – ensuring the United States is competitive in energy storage technologies.

I understand the witnesses have seen a discussion draft of legislation I am working on to accelerate the Department of Energy’s energy storage programs, and I look forward to your comments.

Many of us here agree that energy storage technologies offer significant economic, environmental and security benefits.

A recent study from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory determined that short term power interruptions cost the U.S. economy over 50 billion dollars annually.

Strategic deployment of energy storage systems could increase the reliability of the grid and reduce the impact of these outages. Energy storage systems also can enhance the use of renewable energy sources, diversifying our energy mix and lowering emissions.

Broad deployment of energy storage technologies also can improve overall efficiency of the electric grid. Storing low cost energy generated at nighttime for use during high demand in the daytime makes sense.

Energy storage is also critical for the next generation of vehicles, which will help reduce our dependence on foreign oil and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

There is more work to be done to ensure batteries for electric cars are lighter, more powerful and less costly.

I also think public-private partnerships can improve the production process for advanced vehicle components so that the U.S. becomes a leader in manufacturing these breakthrough technologies.

With so many benefits of energy storage technologies, I think additional federal investment to research, test and advance these systems should be a priority.

I thank the witnesses for testifying today and I look forward to your comments on the draft legislation.

Opening Statement By Chairman Nick Lampson (Energy and Environment)

Good afternoon and welcome to our Subcommittee’s hearing on one of the oldest and most important energy technologies available – advanced batteries and other storage devices.

As long as people have been generating energy we have had an interest in storing it because so often, the rate at which we produce energy doesn’t match the rate at which we use it. Also, there are times when we need portable power. We would not be able to converse on cellular telephones, work remotely on laptop computers, or shine a flashlight where we needed it without batteries.

As our distinguished panel of witnesses will discuss today, batteries are not the only technology for energy storage. There are others that are not as commonplace, but have the potential to help us achieve a better match between energy production and consumption.

Why is this important? Because renewable energy sources – wind and solar – do not produce energy on a continuous basis. These sources will become more viable if we can store the excess energy produced during times of peak wind and sun and release it as needed.

Better energy storage technologies will also enable us to operate electric utilities in a more flexible and efficient manner. Energy storage can also help us respond to power outages more efficiently, providing greater electricity reliability. This could be vital for maintaining operations at critical facilities such as hospitals during a natural disaster.

We are all aware of the high costs and delicate negotiations involved when building new electric generating capacity or transmission lines, especially when plants must be built to meet the power requirements of peak demand. With better energy storage options, we can expand our options for new electricity generation and transmission.

Energy efficiency is the key to progress on three important goals -- economic growth, energy independence, and a cleaner, healthier environment. New hybrid engines for vehicles have demonstrated how greater use of battery power can reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

We can gain further fuel efficiencies and emission reductions, but this requires advances in battery technology and manufacturing far beyond what we see today even in conventional hybrids. This would also allow for more advanced vehicles such as Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles to enter the market, and finally bridge the gap between the electricity and transportation sectors.

With both stationary and mobile energy storage, we cannot let an opportunity to establish a domestic manufacturing base for these technologies pass us by. And unfortunately, we may already be losing this race. New R&D activities with the Department of Energy are critical to advancing energy storage technologies, and we should pursue this aggressively to ensure U.S. participation in this field.

Chairman Gordon and Ranking Member Hall are working on legislation to support these programs at DOE, and the witnesses have been provided a copy of the discussion draft. I look forward to their comments and suggestions to strengthen this bill and accelerate our progress in energy storage technology.

Witnesses

Panel

1 - Mr. Larry Dickerman
Director Distribution Engineering Services American Electric Power Distribution Engineering Services American Electric Power
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2 - Ms. Lynda Ziegler
Senior Vice President for Customer Services Southern California Edison Southern California Edison
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3 - Mr. Brad Roberts
Chairman Electricity Storage Association Electricity Storage Association
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4 - Mr. Thomas S. Key
Technical Leader Renewables and Distributed Generation Electric Power Research Institute Renewables and Distributed Generation Electric Power Research Institute
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5 - Ms. Patricia A. Hoffman
Deputy Director, Research and Development Chief Operating Officer (Acting), Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability Department of Energy Chief Ope
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6 - Ms. Denise Gray
Director, Hybrid Energy Energy Storage Systems General Motors Corporation General Motors Corporation
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7 - Ms. Mary Ann Wright
Vice President and General Manager Hybrid Systems Power Solutions Johnson Controls, Inc. Hybrid Systems Power Solutions Johnson Controls, Inc.
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