This updated SRM presents a clarified mission and vision, a strategic approach, and a path forward to achieving specific objectives that empower a self-sustaining energy storage ecosystem that develops, delivers, and deploys breakthrough solutions to meet a range of real-world applications, across multiple time horizons.
What are the different types of energy storage policy?
Approximately 16 states have adopted some form of energy storage policy, which broadly fall into the following categories: procurement targets, regulatory adaption, demonstration programs, financial incentives, and consumer protections. Below we give an overview of each of these energy storage policy categories.
What is a storage policy?
All of the states with a storage policy in place have a renewable portfolio standard or a nonbinding renewable energy goal. Regulatory changes can broaden competitive access to storage such as by updating resource planning requirements or permitting storage through rate proceedings.
In general, policies are designed to establish boundaries and provide regulatory guidelines. According to the Energy Storage Association (ESA), the policy tools fall under three categories which are value, access and competition .
ESS policies mostly promote energy storage by providing incentives, soft loans, targets and a level playing field. Nevertheless, a relatively small number of countries around the world have implemented the ESS policies.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that in the first quarter of 2020, 30% of the global electricity supply was provided by renewable energy . ESS policy has made a positive impact on transport storage by providing alternatives to fossil fuels such as battery, super-capacitor and fuel cells.
The new law requires the Maryland Public Service Commission to establish the Maryland Energy Storage Program by July 1, 2025 and provides for incentives for the development of energy storage. Procurement targets are beneficial in that they provide supportive signals for investors and reduce regulatory uncertainty.