Who can benefit from solar-plus-storage systems?

Ultimately, residential and commercial solar customers, and utilities and large-scale solar operators alike, can benefit from solar-plus-storage systems. As research continues and the costs of solar energy and storage come down, solar and storage solutions will become more accessible to all Americans.

What is energy storage & how does it work?

Sometimes energy storage is co-located with, or placed next to, a solar energy system, and sometimes the storage system stands alone, but in either configuration, it can help more effectively integrate solar into the energy landscape. What Is Energy Storage?

What is solar-plus-storage & how does it work?

Solar-plus-storage is solving demand growth by providing reliable power when the grid needs it most – during peak hours. Solar consistently generates electricity to charge batteries, which can discharge their power whenever it’s needed, cheaper than a new gas turbine. Meanwhile new gas plants face massive hurdles to near-term growth.

Can solar-plus-storage meet rising demand without gas?

Energy Innovation analysis shows clean energy can come online fast enough to meet rising demand without needing gas to fill the gap, and solar-plus-storage has stepped up.

Can solar energy be used as a energy storage system?

Existing compressed air energy storage systems often use the released air as part of a natural gas power cycle to produce electricity. Solar power can be used to create new fuels that can be combusted (burned) or consumed to provide energy, effectively storing the solar energy in the chemical bonds.

Is solar energy the cheapest and fastest-to-build option?

Many utilities have embraced gas, or promoted restarting closed coal or nuclear plants, but that overlooks the cheapest and fastest-to-build option – solar energy combined with battery storage, also known as solar-plus storage.