On November 6, the Energy Storage Association (ESA) released 35x25: A Vision for Energy Storage, a white paper describing and outlining the means to reaching 35 gigawatts (GW) of new energy storage systems in the United States between 2017 and 2025. Analysis within the report was created in conjunction with Navigant Research.

The report states that more energy storage is needed to accommodate the increased use of electricity across a variety of industries, including transportation, HVAC, communications and manufacturing.

This increased energy storage, according to the report, will create a more reliable and resilient electric grid, which would reduce disruptions and provide $4 billion in cost savings to the U.S. economy. Other benefits listed include cleaner air and the creation of more than 167,000 jobs by 2025 in manufacturing, project development, operations and maintenance, construction and others.

"A modern, resilient grid that meets the needs of today's users is vital to the health and well being of our nation's infrastructure and storage is crucial to making it a reality," said Praveen Kathpal, vice president of AES Energy Storage and chairman of the board of directors at ESA. "The deployment of 35 GW of new energy storage by 2025 will fundamentally transform how we generate, deliver and consume energy, lowering costs and improving air quality and emissions for every user of the grid."

The new storage would be deployed across the country, but analysis showed much of additional capacity would be located in the Southwest (including Hawaii) and the Northeast, accounting for 12.4 GW (or 34 percent of new deployments) and 10.2 GW (28 percent) respectively. The Southeast with 6.7 GW (19 percent) and the Central/Midwest region with 4.8GW (13 percent) would claim respectable storage deployment, while the Northwest trailed behind with 2.3GW (6 percent).

The ESA detailed actions for a variety of organizations (including legislators, regulators and utilities) to undertake to make this vision a reality. Among other things, they called for legislators to conduct energy storage impact studies, set clean energy standards and establish incentive programs.

To read the full report click here.