Long-duration energy storage (LDES) is beginning to emerge as a practical option for microgrids in California, based on a series of tests in military applications and on Indigenous lands.

“The U.S. military is especially interested in deploying LDES at mission-critical facilities to withstand cyberattacks and extreme weather,” Microgrid Knowledge reports, citing Jana Gerber, president of Microgrid North America at Schneider Electric. And the California Energy Commission (CEC) “is working with Indian Energy—a Native American-owned microgrid developer that focuses on government and tribal utility installations—to learn as much as possible about LDES technologies,” defined by their ability to store electricity for more than 10 hours.

In a state facing power outages and public safety issues as a result of persistent wildfires, “long-duration storage could play a major role” in “outage-prone” tribal communities looking to boost their energy resilience, Microgrid Knowledge says. “LDES technologies are seen as key to deploying intermittent renewable resources, boosting grid resilience, and cutting dependence on fossil fuels.”

The news story summarizes those applications, noting that the options span a mix of chemical, thermal, and electrochemical options. Their costs and benefits vary, with price points ranging from $100 to $200 per megawatt-hour and the U.S. Department of Energy setting its sights on a threshold of $50.

“Most LDES technologies are scalable, have modular designs, and use relatively inexpensive and abundant materials,” writes reporter Lisa Cohn. “They’re also less likely than lithium ion to catch fire.”