Long Duration Energy Storage Program

Background

The Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) program has been allocated over $270 million to invest in demonstration and deployment of non-lithium-ion long duration energy storage technologies across California, paving the way for opportunities to foster a diverse portfolio of energy storage technologies that will contribute to a safe and reliable future grid. The LDES program, in part, leverages funding made available through the California Climate Investments initiative, and is aligned with its goals of prioritizing disadvantaged communities and providing energy savings, direct economic benefits, emission reductions, and supporting grid resiliency.

LDES technologies play an important role in achieving California's zero carbon goals. As the deployment of intermittent renewable energy sources accelerates and the frequency of extreme weather events increases due to climate change, there is a growing need for storage technologies with extended energy-duration capabilities to maintain grid reliability. The LDES program prioritizes projects that will benefit Justice Communities and maintains a strong focus on projects that benefit Native American tribes in California.

LDES Program Projects

Expand All Collapse All

Rapid Integration and Commercialization Unit

In 2020, the CEC awarded a $5 million Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) program grant award to Indian Energy to demonstrate the utility of deploying multiple LDES systems to maximize a microgrid system’s load and response capabilities. The resulting Rapid Integration and Commercialization Unit (RICU) is located aboard the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (MCAS Miramar) in San Diego. The RICU consists of a microgrid system connected to a solar array with multiple points for energy storage installations. Following the success of the RICU EPIC project, the CEC awarded an additional $4.85 million grant for the RICU in June 2024 to execute a second phase of demonstration and research. Phase 2 includes the demonstration of iron flow battery, zinc bromine flow battery, and zinc air battery technologies.

The RICU has been recognized as a valuable testing facility capable of evaluating the performance and safety of energy storage technologies and aiding in the establishment of safety guidelines addressing potential safety incidents involving LDES technologies for emergency first responders. The insights gained from the RICU project have the potential to play a key role in California’s energy future by facilitating the large-scale adoption of LDES for grid reliability and renewable energy integration.

Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians

In 2022, the CEC awarded Indian Energy, a privately held Native American-owned microgrid developer, a $31 million grant to install a 60 MWh LDES system on Viejas Tribe of Kumeyaay Indians land in San Diego County. In 2024, the scope of the agreement was expanded by increasing the project budget $12 million and deploying an additional 10 MWh of batteries, resulting in a total system size of 70 MWh. The vanadium flow and zinc hybrid cathode battery technologies are capable of providing up to 10 hours of power, providing renewable backup power to the Viejas community in the event of electricity outages and enhancing the tribe’s energy sovereignty.

The first phase of the project, which will deploy a total of 37 MWh of storage, is expected to be operational in late 2024. The full system is expected to be operational by summer 2025.

Form Energy, Inc.

In 2023, the CEC awarded Form Energy Inc. a $30 million grant to install a 5 MW/500 MWh iron-air energy storage system on Pacific Gas & Electric Company’s substation at Redwood Valley, Mendocino County, California.

Form Energy’s storage system supports grid reliability and resilience by supplying up to an unprecedented 100 hours of continuous power during extreme weather conditions and grid outages.

The system is expected to be commissioned by 2025.

Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians

In 2023, the CEC awarded Charge Bliss Inc. a $32.7 million grant to demonstrate a 5 MW solar photovoltaic and 15 MWh LDES system to support the Paskenta Band of the Nomlaki Indians located in Corning, California.

The project will deploy non-lithium-ion battery technology capable of supplying power for approximately 18 hours. The system will consist of a microgrid that will support local grid resiliency and meet the tribe’s energy needs, ultimately enhancing their energy sovereignty.

The system is scheduled to be operational by 2026.

Sacramento Municipal Utility District

In 2024, the CEC awarded Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) a $10 million grant to deploy a 3.6 MW 8-hour iron flow battery LDES technology system. This project will allow SMUD to evaluate the performance of iron flow battery technology and support grid needs. The first and second half of the system is expected to be commissioned in summer 2026 and early 2027, respectively. Successful completion of the project will enable SMUD to scale the deployment of iron flow LDES up to 200 MW.

Resources

Expand All Collapse All

Funding Opportunities

The LDES program has no available funding opportunities at this time. For other energy storage related funding opportunities at CEC, refer to the Electric Program Investment Charge Program.

Informational Material

CEQA Documents