Energy storage economics 101

A comprehensive set of articles from online mag "Intelligent Utility". They describe themselves as "where the smart grid meets business and reality".

Energy storage economics 101
We have illuminated numerous angles on the subject of energy storage over the past two weeks. Our astute readers added several thought-provoking angles to the discussion that in themselves are worthy of attention. Expert reader input ranged from the big-picture economics of storage alternatives to life-cycle environmental impacts to project-specific evaluations of cost effectiveness.

"Energy Storage Research Just Published," discussed a new EPRI report that suggested that "energy storage" is a meaningless term because it's all about the application and location-specific needs first. Then a utility can assess the business value of applying a storage medium or process, compare competing technologies (traditional and nascent) and determine the most cost-effective alternative. This approach makes generalizations difficult.

...In one specific case in Iowa, discussed in "The Business Case for Compressed Air," one reader dialed in on the CAES (compressed air energy storage) project's goal of providing energy for the "intermediate use cycle"—that is, to meet load between baseline and peak from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

...in "Four Ways to Think About Energy Storage," we listened in on the testimony of four leading California utilities before the California Energy Commission that agreed on two major themes: it's all about the application and mandates or set-asides for storage technologies lead to ill-considered investments and higher end-user costs. Our readers applauded.

http://www.intelligentutility.com/article/11/05/energy-storage-economics-101



Two more articles they recommend are linked at the bottom
"Energy Storage: Drivers and Goals"

"Chasing Batteries for Energy Storage"