New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced over $5 million for long-duration energy storage (LDES) projects through New York State’s Renewable Optimization and Energy Storage Innovation Program.
The funding will enable development and demonstration of scalable innovative LDES solutions to connect and provide stored renewable energy to the State’s electric grid, helping to reduce harmful emissions from reliance on fossil fuels.
The announcement supports the current Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act) goal to install 3,000 MW of energy storage by 2030 and facilitates development to 6,000 MW.
The funding is administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and is being made available through a competitive solicitation for projects supporting innovative and under-utilized LDES solutions, devices, software, controls, and other complementary technologies, which are not commercialized.
Proposals are required to promote product development and demonstration projects in energy storage that are 10 to over 100 hours in duration at rated power and are expected to advance and field test electrical, chemical, mechanical, and thermal to electric long duration storage solution technologies addressing cost, performance, and renewable integration challenges such as grid congestion, hosting capacity constraints, and lithium-ion siting limitations in New York City.
The selected projects will support the development of LDES solutions paired with renewable energy generation in disadvantaged communities, resulting in reduced emissions, improved health outcomes for residents, and reduced climate related impacts and grid constraints.
The announcement builds on the more than $30 million awarded in 2022 and 2023 by NYSERDA to nine projects through the first two rounds of the program. The projects are advancing a variety of technologies including hydrogen, zinc hybrid and iron-air battery technologies, nuclear-hydrogen long duration energy storage, and a hydroelectric storage system integrating directly with offshore wind development in support of grid resiliency and reduced reliance on fossil fuel plants.
Awards from the third round are expected to be announced in summer 2024.
NYSERDA's Innovation program is deploying $800 million over 10 years as direct investments through grants and wrap-around commercialization support. While more than $680 million in private investments and $200 million in project finance capital have been enabled, more than 450 innovative clean energy products have been commercialized due to NYSERDA's technology and business development investments.
The NYSERDA program is funded through the state's 10-year, $6 billion Clean Energy Fund.
