According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s ‘Liftoff’ report on long-duration energy storage (LDES), the U.S. grid needs 225-460 GW of LDES capacity for a net zero economy by 2060. LDES plays a critical role in providing clean backup power for microgrids to ensure resiliency. By deploying solar and storage microgrids, both utilities and commercial and industrial customers can embrace sustainability by reducing their reliance on fossil fuel-powered peaker plants during periods of high demand and also provide resilience through power outages.

However, the current LDES landscape is not without its challenges. As lithium-ion battery fires spark concerns, there is an immediate need for sustainable and safe energy storage alternatives to store the increasing amount of renewable power generation. Iron-flow battery technology firm ESS and microgrid developer TerraSol will detail their work deploying a solar-storage microgrid at an industrial recycling facility in Pennsylvania. This case study will offer lessons on how long-duration alternatives to li-ion batteries can help fuel an industrial energy transition.