What Would It Take for the US to Become an Energy Storage Manufacturing Powerhouse?

• U.S. entrepreneurs lead in grid power storage but rely heavily on foreign sources for key components like batteries. The Department of Energy proposes a “Grand Challenge” to establish a domestic energy storage supply chain by 2030 for national security and economic reasons.
• This contrasts with the current import-heavy model, which faced disruptions like the 2018 battery supply crunch. The DOE aims to avoid missed opportunities seen in solar manufacturing by emphasizing innovation and maintaining global trade ties.
• Promising alternatives include pumped hydro storage and compressed air storage, with federal support crucial for their development. New energy storage chemistries like zinc-based batteries and flow batteries offer potential for domestically sourced materials but haven’t yet reached lithium-ion’s scale.
• Despite challenges, intentional efforts to nurture local storage manufacturing could enhance energy storage self-sufficiency.

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