The energy storage industry is growing rapidly, with employment numbers expanding just as rapidly as project Megawatt hours. For those new to the energy storage industry, here is a perspective on the market from Ray Saka, IHI Terrasun’s Vice President of Business Strategy and Services who started in energy storage 7 years ago.

“When getting started with the energy storage industry, you must appreciate that this is not a 100-meter dash. We live in the world of the 50-mileultramarathon with lots of uphill and downhill through winding roads.

For instance, the CAISO (California ISO) market was planning for a duck curve way back in 2010 (yes, that’s way back for energy storage market), and in 2023 the Duck Curve is now renamed the Canyon Curve, because the drop in electricity demand during the day is so rapid (due to incredible production from solar) that the drop looks like an edge of a canyon. The bottom of the canyon needs full support from Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to tackle negative pricing and dampen the inevitable ramp-up in demand post peak solar hours. Flexible dispatch capability of energy storage, with its advanced inverter technology capable of supporting variable grid voltage and frequency, makes the future grid fail-safe and sustainable. It’s a challenging path, but also an exciting one as we tackle the ups & downs of grid modernization.

Being involved in renewable energy, especially in maximizing availability and optimizing renewable energy power plants with energy storage as an enabling technology, allows us to create a brighter future ahead for the next generation. But this doesn’t happen overnight. We need to commit to the long haul, create the infrastructure that we need, and drive technical and commercial innovation forward.

This is a marathon. It’s important to pace your speed, adjust your stride based on how technology evolves and take advantage of the sprint opportunities that come our way. When we finish this race, we win a future for humanity.”

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