U.S. launches “Better Energy Storage Technology” Act to increase battery R&D

US Congress introduced the Better Energy Storage Technology (BEST) Act of 2019, which aims to support grid-scale energy storage R&D and improve the efficiency of the nation’s electric grid, while helping to align research efforts on energy storage technologies, increasing the affordability of these technologies by directing the Department Of Energy (DoE) to pursue a strategic plan and implement cost targets. Specifically, the BEST Act focuses on:

• Focuses grid-scale energy storage research and development on:
  • Highly flexible power systems with a minimum duration of six hours and with a lifetime of at least 8,000 cycles of discharge at full output and 20 years of operation;
  • Long duration storage systems with power output of 10 to roughly 100 hours, with a lifetime of at least 1,500 cycles and 20 years of operations;
  • Seasonal storage systems that can store energy over several months and address seasonality concerns.
• Supports up to five demonstration projects to advance commercialization of grid-scale energy storage technologies.
• Directs DOE to develop a strategic plan and cost targets for grid-scale energy storage.
• Accelerates testing and validation of energy storage systems through the country’s National Laboratories.
• Requires coordination and alignment of research efforts to produce commercially viable energy storage systems through coordination at DOE, National Laboratories, federal agencies, and end users.
• Authorizes $60 million annually for the program from 2020 to 2024.

Source : https://bit.ly/2wjQWwD