Recently, the long-duration energy storage project jointly undertaken by the California public utility company SMUD and ESS Tech, Inc. has received a $10 million grant from the California Energy Commission to demonstrate a 3.6MW, 8-hour iron flow battery project. We previously analyzed ESS's technical route in the article "Demonstration and Deployment of ESS's Second-Generation All-Iron Flow Long-Duration Energy Storage System," which is an all-iron flow battery.

SMUD pointed out on July 23: "The project aims to showcase the capabilities and reliability of iron flow battery technology, which complements renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power by storing energy and strategically dispatching it according to demand, to support the power distribution and transmission systems of the grid. This is especially important as SMUD transitions to a carbon-free electricity portfolio by 2030."

"Thank you to California Energy Commission Chair David Hochschild, the other commissioners, and the staff for continuing to lead policy-making and investment, making California a model for other states transitioning to a clean energy future," said Laura Lewis, SMUD's Senior Vice President of Law, Policy, and External Affairs. "CEC's collaboration and investment in the field of clean technology are crucial for advancing the development of long-duration energy storage and also help SMUD maintain some of the lowest rates in California."

SMUD noted that by investing in renewable energy projects, customer programs, and cutting-edge technologies, such as the long-duration storage and other zero-carbon innovations provided and developed in cooperation with ESS, it will continue to move towards its goal of eliminating carbon emissions from electricity supply by 2030. "This technology not only captures and stores clean energy, ensuring its availability around the clock and maximizing the use of renewable resources, but also enhances resource adequacy, especially during peak demand periods, providing stable, reliable, and clean energy supply for the community."

This partnership and technology offer many anticipated benefits, including accelerating the commercialization of iron flow batteries, improving the cost competitiveness of non-lithium long-duration energy storage, enhancing grid reliability, complementing SMUD's renewable energy, and supporting workforce development and local economy through clean energy jobs.

Currently, the ESS iron flow long-duration energy storage project at SMUD's Sacramento Municipal Utility District is in its early stages. In September 2023, ESS provided six Energy Warehouse™ systems to SMUD as part of a 2GWh framework agreement. The existing 450kW/2.400MWh Energy Warehouse system at SMUD's Sacramento Municipal Utility District continues to provide valuable insights for SMUD and ESS through risk and benefit analysis, use case studies, and performance testing. These efforts will ultimately determine the best applications for iron flow battery technology, aiming for cost and performance competitiveness compared to lithium-ion batteries for 8 hours and longer.

ESS will provide an iron flow long-duration energy storage system of up to 200MW/2GWh. Once fully operational and combined with renewable energy, these systems are expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from SMUD's grid by approximately 284,000 metric tons per year.

In addition to the grant from the California Energy Commission, SMUD will also commit to sharing approximately $19.5 million in labor and material costs for ESS Tech, Inc.'s 4MW long-duration energy storage project, which includes the existing 450kW unit and the newly funded 3.6MW additional unit.

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