Full Title: Leveraging Rail-Based Mobile Energy Storage to Increase Grid Reliability in the Face of Climate Uncertainty
Author(s): Jill W. Moraski,Natalie D. Popovich, and Amol A. Phadke
Publisher(s): Nature Energy
Publication Date: June 12, 2023
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Description (excerpt):
This paper examine the potential to use the US rail system as a nationwide backup transmission grid over which containerized batteries, or rail-based mobile energy storage (RMES), are shared among regions to meet demand peaks, relieve transmission congestion and increase resilience. We find that RMES is a feasible reliability solution for low-frequency, high-impact events and quantify its cost effectiveness relative to reliability-driven investments in transmission infrastructure and stationary capacity. Compared to new transmission lines and stationary battery capacity, deploying RMES for such events could save the power sector upwards of US$300 per kW-year and US$85 per kW-year, respectively. While no known technical barriers exclude RMES from grid participation, addressing interconnection challenges and revising regulatory frameworks is necessary for deployment at scale.