Hearing of the House Energy Subcommittee of the Science, Space and Technology Committee - Innovations in Battery Storage for Renewable Energy

Hearing

Good morning and welcome to today's Energy Subcommittee hearing examining
innovations in battery storage technology. Today, we will hear from government and industry witnesses
on the state of large-scale battery storage, and recent technology breakthroughs achieved through
research and development at the national labs and universities around the country. Our witnesses today
will also provide insight into how innovative companies are transitioning basic science research in
battery storage technology to the energy marketplace.

Energy storage could revolutionize electricity generation and delivery in America. Cost effective, largescale
batteries could change the way we power our homes, reduce infrastructure improvement costs, and
allow renewable energy to add power to the electric grid without compromising reliability or increasing
consumer costs.

As a Texan, I know the value of reliable, affordable energy. With a population that is increasing by
more than 1,000 people per day, and energy intensive industries driving consumption, Texas is by far
the nation's largest consumer of electricity. The Texas economy needs reliable and affordable energy to
power long-term growth. With battery storage technology, Texas could count on power from
conventional and renewable energy sources regardless of the weather, saving money for Texas
consumers and keeping the Texas power grid reliable and secure.

Although large-scale battery storage has been available for decades, there is still more work to be done.
Fundamental research and development into the atomic and molecular structure of batteries is needed to
better understand the operation, performance limitations, and failures of battery technology. At our
national labs, we have the facilities and expertise necessary to conduct this basic research.

The private sector plays an instrumental role in commercializing next generation battery technology.

Through partnerships with the national labs, innovative battery companies can take advantage of cutting
edge research and user facilities, and develop cost-effective, efficient energy storage technology that can
compete in today's energy marketplace. Instead of duplicating deployment efforts that can be done by
the private sector, the federal government should prioritize basic research and development on energy
storage. This investment in energy storage technology R&D can benefit all forms of energy while
maintaining reliability and the security of the nation's electric grid.

Current U.S. policy for advancing the deployment of renewable energy is built around federal subsidies
and tax credits. But these policies tend to increase costs for the American people, and are
counterproductive to the development of battery storage technology that could make renewable power a
good investment in the real world. By creating an incentive to invest in renewable energy deployment
instead of energy storage, the federal government is steering investment away from battery storage
technology. And the truth is, without affordable and efficient energy storage, renewable energy will
never be able to match the efficiency, affordability, and reliability of fossil fuels.

Instead, the federal government should end market-distorting subsidies and tax credits for the renewable
energy industry, and allocate resources to basic research and development necessary to solve the
challenge of energy storage.

I want to thank our witnesses for testifying to the Committee today, and I look forward to a discussion
about federal energy storage research and development, and the impact efficient and affordable batteries
can have on energy reliability and security.

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