We are pleased to publish a press release from the U.S. Energy Storage Association (ESA). “The COVID-19 virus has placed unprecedented stress on the physical and economic health of communities around the world, and in just a few short weeks has upended our daily personal and work lives for an undetermined period ahead. For individuals working in the energy storage industry, the story is no different.”
“The U.S. Energy Storage Association (ESA) recently conducted a poll of our industry, revealing that the impact has been immediate and potentially devastating to our industry. With so much progress toward making the grid more resilient, efficient, sustainable and affordable in recent years, we can’t just cede that progress. We must ask Congress to act to support the more than 60,000 professionals in the energy storage industry across the U.S. to continue their work and continue to expand this quickly growing sector in the electricity industry.”
“The U.S. energy storage industry employs more than 60,000 professionals, according to the 2019 U.S. Energy and Employment Report. New and grid energy storage systems account for approximately $1 billion annually in economic activity. Both statistics are growing fast: That 2018 storage employment estimate was more than 14% above 2017 jobs and characterized by the Energy Futures Initiative as the one of the fastest growing employment sectors among U.S. energy technology. Similarly, the latest Wood Mackenzie Energy Storage Monitor 2019 Year in Review projected a 7.3 GW annual storage market in 2025, worth $7.2 billion in that year. Energy storage is truly one of America’s great new jobs and economic engines. Given the current crisis, that number will surely be adjusted downward.”
“Both grid-scale and distributed energy storage technologies, especially batteries, are critical to America’s resilience and electric system reliability. The benefits of energy storage are numerous and include:
- Increased grid efficiency and lower cost of power supply
- Extended life of our current electric infrastructure
- Enables more clean energy and electric transportation deployment
- Allows backup power during blackouts”
“As with all sectors of our economy, the current economic shocks present considerable threats to the industry’s health and hiring.”
Full press release HERE