From Hours To Days - Reinventing Long-Duration Energy Storage

A new linear generator could be the answer to the risks of extreme weather. The prospect of an extended blackout during a heat wave is not only alarming, but a potential public health emergency. According to a recent report in the New York Times, 800,000 residents would require hospitalisation if a major heatwave coincided with an extended blackout. The study, conducted by the Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, made clear the need for reliable energy storage.  Advancements in technology are helping to mitigate the risk, with modern batteries improving their lifespans from two to four hours to a more robust eight to ten hours. Experts even predict reaching a milestone of 100-hour battery life in the near future. However, nature doesn’t keep time like we do, and extreme weather can cause outages that outlast even these improved capabilities. So how can we protect our cities and ensure sustained power during these disruptions? The answer lies in developing technologies that transition long-duration storage capacities from hours to days and beyond. The Mainspring Linear Generator, developed by Mainspring Energy, a Silicon Valley-based startup, could be one of the answers to the storage challenge.  We are joined by Mainspring CEO Dr. Shannon Miller, a Stanford alumna with a PhD in mechanical engineering. The Mainspring Linear Generator has raised over $530 million in funding from cleantech investors and demonstrates the potential of innovative solutions in accelerating the shift towards a net-zero carbon grid. Shannon explains how it uses different types of fuel - including conventional types like natural gas - and clean fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia.   To explore the wider trends and challenges around long-duration storage, Dr Melissa Lott also joins us on the Interchange this week. Melissa is Director of the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, and she talks about the risks of gaps in power access, energy cost spikes and reliability issues. One of the key changes seen in the storage market is the separation of storage and generation solutions. As fossil fuel-based generators wind down, finding reliable and sustainable alternatives to provide reliable power becomes increasingly important. Incentives and regulatory frameworks are integral to fostering the energy transition. Currently, however, specific types of storage, like electrochemical or thermal storage, are often prescribed in state mandates instead of leaving room for innovative alternatives. Therefore, there's a growing need for technology-neutral policies that accommodate various kinds of storage, including clean fuels. If you haven’t already, check out our sister podcast, "The Energy Gang," which offers biweekly insights into the latest and biggest energy stories. Subscribe to the Interchange Recharged so you don’t miss an episode, out every second Friday at 7am ET.  Find us on X (formerly known as Twitter) – we’re @interchangeshow See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Clean tech, green finance and energy innovation are the three lanes on the road to a successful global energy transition. At the intersection of these lanes is a place where ideas on finance, technology and policy are shared and debated. That intersection is Interchange Recharged.  Sylvia Leyva Martinez, principal analyst at Wood Mackenzie, invites visionaries, entrepreneurs, policy-makers and energy analysts to explore the newest developments in renewable technology, explain the ideas on global energy policy that could accelerate the energy transition, and identify new funding and financial models that could solve the biggest challenges we face on the way to net zero.  Sylvia and her guests bring you data and forecasts on clean technology, climate science, and offer predictions on the build out of utility-scale projects and the future of green finance. What impacts do the annual UN Conference of the Parties have on decarbonisation goals and climate change? What will COP30 bring? What’s happening in global EV adoption and development? What’s the forecast for solar energy, one of the major success stories of renewable energy in the last ten years? What does the data tell us about the future of hydrogen, of nuclear, or of low-carbon power?  These are examples of the insights and detailed analyses you can expect bi-weekly on Tuesdays at 7am ET.  If you like The Energy Transition Show, Catalyst with Shayle Kann, The Big Switch from Columbia University, Open Circuit with Stephen Lacey or The Green Blueprint, you’ll enjoy Interchange Recharged.  Want to get involved with the show? Reach out to podcasts@woodmac.com to: Bring Sylvia and Interchange Recharged to your event Be a guest on the show  Sponsor an episode Ask a question to Sylvia or one of our guests  Check out another leading clean tech global podcast by Wood Mackenzie, Energy Gang, at woodmac.com/podcasts/the-energy-gang Wood Mackenzie is the leading global data and analytics solutions provider for renewables, energy and natural resources. Learn more about Wood Mackenzie on the official website: https://www.woodmac.com/