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Leveraging rail-based mobile energy storage to increase grid reliability in the face of climate uncertainty

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Listed:
  • Jill W. Moraski

    (University of California
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Natalie D. Popovich

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Amol A. Phadke

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

Abstract

Maintaining reliability is increasingly challenging for electric grids as they endure more frequent extreme weather events and utilize more intermittent generation. Exploration of alternative reliability approaches is needed to effectively address these emerging issues. Here we examine the potential to use the US rail system as a nationwide backup transmission grid over which containerized batteries, or rail-based mobile energy storage (RMES), are shared among regions to meet demand peaks, relieve transmission congestion and increase resilience. We find that RMES is a feasible reliability solution for low-frequency, high-impact events and quantify its cost effectiveness relative to reliability-driven investments in transmission infrastructure and stationary capacity. Compared to new transmission lines and stationary battery capacity, deploying RMES for such events could save the power sector upwards of US$300 per kW-year and US$85 per kW-year, respectively. While no known technical barriers exclude RMES from grid participation, addressing interconnection challenges and revising regulatory frameworks is necessary for deployment at scale.

Suggested Citation

  • Jill W. Moraski & Natalie D. Popovich & Amol A. Phadke, 2023. "Leveraging rail-based mobile energy storage to increase grid reliability in the face of climate uncertainty," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 8(7), pages 736-746, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natene:v:8:y:2023:i:7:d:10.1038_s41560-023-01276-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41560-023-01276-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Zhuoxin Lu & Xiaoyuan Xu & Zheng Yan & Dong Han & Shiwei Xia, 2024. "Mobile Energy-Storage Technology in Power Grid: A Review of Models and Applications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-19, August.
    2. Adella Grace Migisha & Joseph M. Ntayi & Faisal Buyinza & Livingstone Senyonga & Joyce Abaliwano & Muyiwa S. Adaramola, 2023. "Review of Concepts and Determinants of Grid Electricity Reliability," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-21, October.
    3. Ng, Max T.M. & Hernandez, Adrian & Durango-Cohen, Pablo L. & Mahmassani, Hani S., 2024. "Trading off energy storage and payload – An analytical model for freight train configuration," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    4. Ruifei Ma & Shengyu Tao & Xin Sun & Yifang Ren & Chongbo Sun & Guanjun Ji & Jiahe Xu & Xuecen Wang & Xuan Zhang & Qiuwei Wu & Guangmin Zhou, 2024. "Pathway decisions for reuse and recycling of retired lithium-ion batteries considering economic and environmental functions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.

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