New US coalition pushes for stronger energy storage policies amid renewable growth

A new coalition has been formed to push for greater support of the US energy storage industry. The American Battery Leadership Coalition, led by Alsym Energy CEO Graeme Grant, aims to advocate for policies that strengthen domestic energy storage solutions. This comes as the demand for reliable, long-term storage grows alongside renewable energy expansion. Long-duration energy storage is currently dominated by pumped storage hydropower, which accounts for about 95% of the US market. The US Department of Energy defines such storage as systems capable of holding energy for at least 10 hours, ideally much longer. Meanwhile, the hydropower industry is looking into upgrading existing facilities and retrofitting dams to improve efficiency. Researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have found that pairing hydropower with battery storage can boost revenue and operational efficiency by storing surplus energy.

New battery technologies are also emerging as strong contenders. Sodium-ion batteries, for example, use abundant, low-cost, non-toxic, and non-flammable salt as their primary material. ESS Tech is targeting short and medium-duration markets with its sodium-ion systems, presenting a challenge to lithium-ion’s dominance. China has already taken a lead in this area, launching the first commercially validated sodium-ion storage solution, with shipments projected to hit 1 gigawatt by late 2023.

These advancements are helping wind and solar power compete more effectively with traditional energy sources. Batteries, including sodium-ion options, enable the storage of clean energy generated by solar panels and wind turbines for use when demand is high. The launch of the American Battery Leadership Coalition signals a push for stronger backing of US energy storage innovation. With pumped hydropower still leading and new battery technologies gaining ground, the sector is evolving rapidly. These developments aim to make renewable energy more reliable and competitive in the long term.