CostBenchmarkingforLongDurationEnergyStorageSolutions

2025TechnicalReport

January2026

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

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EPRIpreparedthisreportincollaborationwiththeLDESCouncil.

ThePrincipalInvestigatorswere:G.Booras,J.Marasigan,J.Raade,J.RushkoffandS.Hume.

EPRIacknowledgesthestrongpartnershipandcollaborationoftheLDESCouncilanditsmemberorganizationsinsupportingthisresearcheffort.ThecontributionsofCouncilmembers—throughtheirtechnicalinsights,marketperspectives,andongoing

engagement—wereinstrumentalinshapingthefindingsandensuringthatthe

outcomesreflectreal-worldprioritiesandopportunitiesforlongdurationenergystoragedeployment.

EPRIandtheLDESCouncilrecognizeandvaluethecollectiveeffortofallparticipantswhocontributedknowledge,expertise,andguidance.Theircommitmenttoadvancing

theenergystorageindustrycontinuestodriveprogresstowardamoreresilient,reliable,anddecarbonisedenergysystem.

ABSTRACT

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Thisstudypresentstheresultsofacostbenchmarkingstudyforlongdurationenergystorage(LDES)technologiesconductedbyEPRIincollaborationwiththeLDES

Council.Recognizingtheneedtohavehigh-qualitydataonthecostofLDES

technologiestoenablepolicymakersanddatacollectorstosupportthemodeling,

demonstration,andlarge-scaledeploymentofLDESsolutions,theLDESCouncil

issuedasurveytoitstechnologydevelopermemberstocollecthigh-levelperformancemetrics,capitalandoperatingcosts,andtechnologyreadinesslevelsforcommercial-scaleprojectsinbothpower-to-powerandpower-to-heatapplications.

Thecollecteddatawerereviewedandnormalisedtoacommondesignbasisand

locationtoenablemeaningfulcomparisonsacrosstechnologies.Thenamesof

individualtechnologydeveloperswerenotincludedgivenconfidentialityrestrictions.

However,thedataarepresentedinanaggregatedformatwithrelatedtechnologies

includedinfivebroadtechnologycategories,including:IntradayElectrochemical,

IntradayCompressedGas,IntradayPumpedHeat,Multi-Day,andThermalEnergy

Storage.Costdatawerescaledandaggregatedforcontractyears2025and2030,

providinginsightsintoexpectedcostreductionsdrivenbyresearchanddevelopment

advancementsandmanufacturingscale-up.Costdatawerealsoaggregatedtoavoidover-interpretingindividualtechnologyperformance,e.g.,topreserveconfidentialityandcomparability.

NotetoReaders:Toensurecomparabilityandprotectcommerciallysensitive

information,thisstudypresentscostdatainaggregatedrangesbytechnologycategory.Readersseekingmoregranularortechnology-specificinformationformodelingor

planningpurposesareencouragedtocontacttheLDESCouncil,whichcanfacilitateconnectionswithrelevanttechnologydevelopersrepresentedinthisstudy.

EXECUTIVESUMMARY

Thisreportpresentstheresultsofacomprehensivecostbenchmarkingstudyforlongdurationenergystorage(LDES)technologies,conductedbyEPRIincollaborationwiththeLDESCouncil.Thestudyaddressesthegrowingneedforreliable,scalable,andcost-effectiveenergystoragesolutionstosupportgridreliability,decarbonization,andtheincreasingenergydemandsdrivenbydatacentres,electrification,andartificial

intelligence.

StudyOverview

?AstructuredsurveywasissuedtoLDESCounciltechnologydevelopermembers.

?Datacollectedincludedcapitalcosts,operatingandmaintenance(O&M)costs,performancemetrics,andtechnologyreadinesslevels(TRLs).

?Technologiesweregroupedintofivecategories:

?IntradayElectrochemical(e.g.,flowbatteries,sodiumbatteries)

?IntradayCompressedGas(e.g.,advancedcompressedair,liquidair,CO:-basedsystems)

?IntradayPumpedHeatEnergyStorage(power-to-powerconfiguration)

?Multi-Day(100+hroptions,e.g.,fuel-based,reversiblefuelcells,metal-airbatteries,etc.)

?ThermalEnergyStorage(power-to-heatsystemssuchassensibleheatorphase-changematerials)

?Datawerenormalisedtoacommondesignbasisandlocation(U.S.Lower48)toenablemeaningfulcomparisons.

KeyCostData

Thelowandhighrangesfortotalplantcost(TPC)in$/kWhforeachtechnologygroupareplottedinthefollowingfiguresforcurrentcostsin2025andforprojectedcostsin2030.Alltechnologycategoriesshowcostsinunitsofelectricalenergystorage(power-to-powerapplications)exceptforThermalEnergyStorage,whichisshowninunitsofthermalenergystorage(power-to-heatapplication).TPCvaluesexpressedin$/kWh

shouldbeinterpretedinthecontextofdischargedurationandintendedsystem

application,aslongerdurationresourcesinherentlyspreadfixedpower-relatedcostsovermorestoredenergy.

TPC,$/kWh

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

Rangein2025&2030TotalPlantCost,$/kWh

oLow●High

572

358

244

220

2025100MW,10-hr

Intraday

Electrochemical

EnergyStorage

2030100MW,10-hr

Intraday

Electrochemical

EnergyStorage

Figure1.Rangein2025and2030TPCin$/kWhforIntradayElectrochemicalEnergyStoragecategory

NotethattheIntradayElectrochemicaltechnologiesthatmakeupthe2030grouparenotthesameasthosein2025,i.e.,somedevelopersonlyprovided2025costs,someboth2025and2030costs,andsomeonly2030costs.Basedonthesubmittedcostdata,theprojectedTPCcostreductionfrom2025to2030fortheIntraday

ElectrochemicalEnergyStoragecategoryaverages~37%.

TPC,$/kWh

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

Rangein2025&2030TotalPlantCost,$/kWh

oLowoHigh

471

158

445

118

2025100MW,10-hr

Intraday

CompressedGas

EnergyStorage

2030100MW,10-hr

Intraday

CompressedGas

EnergyStorage

Figure2.Rangein2025and2030TPCin$/kWhforIntradayCompressedGasEnergyStoragecategory

Basedonthesubmittedcostdata,theprojectedTPCcostreductionsfrom2025to2030fortheCompressedGasEnergyStoragecategoryrangefrom6-25%.

Rangein2030TotalPlantCost,$/kWh

TPC,$/kWh

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

oLow●High

338

236

2030100MW,10-hr

Intraday

PumpedHeat

EnergyStorage

Figure3.Rangein2030TPCin$/kWhforIntradayPumpedHeatEnergyStoragecategory

Rangein2030TotalPlantCost,$/kWh

TPC,$/kWh

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

oLow●High

38

26

203010MW,100-hr

Multi-Day

EnergyStorage

Figure4.Rangein2030TPCin$/kWhforMulti-DayEnergyStoragecategory

TPC,$/kWhth

200

180

160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

Rangein2025&2030TotalPlantCost,$/kWhth

oLow●High

132

82

20

24

202525MWth,20-hr

Thermal

EnergyStorage

203025MWth,20-hr

Thermal

EnergyStorage

Figure5.Rangein2025and2030TPCin$/kWhthforThermalEnergyStoragecategory

Notethatthetechnologiesthatmakeupthe2030grouparenotthesameasthosein2025,i.e.,somedevelopersonlyprovided2025costs,whileothersprovidedboth2025and2030costs.Basedonthesubmittedcostdata,theprojectedTPCcostreductionsfrom2025to2030fortheThermalEnergyStoragecategoryrangefrom16-47%.

Conclusions

?Thetechnologydevelopersactiveintheindustrywhoprovidedcostsforboth

contractyearsexpectsubstantiallylowercostsin2030versus2025.Expectedcostreductionsby2030aredrivenbyongoingwork,improvedperformance,and

economiesofscalefromexpandedmanufacturing.

?TheaggregatedandnormalisedcostdataprovideactionableinsightsforutilitiesandsystemoperatorstoincorporateLDEStechnologiesintoresourceplanningand

capacityexpansionmodels

?Thebenchmarkingmethodologyenablesconsistentcomparisonacrossdiversetechnologiesandsupportsplanning,modeling,andinvestmentdecisions

?DifferencesbetweenLDESCouncildataandotherreferenceshighlighttheneedforharmonizedcostdefinitionsandbroadertechnologycoveragetoallowfair

comparisons

ACRONYMSANDABBREVIATIONS

Abbreviation

Definition

ATB

AnnualTechnologyBaseline

BESS

Batteryenergystoragesystem

BOP

Balance-of-plant

CAPEX

Capitalexpenditure

HTF

Heattransferfluid

LAES

Liquidairenergystorage

LDES

Longdurationenergystorage

LFP

Lithiumironphosphate

MW

Megawattelectric

MWth

Megawattthermal

MWh

Megawatt-hourelectric

MWhth

Megawatt-hourthermal

NLR

NationalLaboratoryoftheRockies

O&M

Operatingandmaintenance

P2H

Power-to-heat

P2P

Power-to-power

PCM

Phase-changematerial

PHES

Pumpedheatenergystorage

RFB

Redoxflowbattery

RTE

Round-tripefficiency

TES

Thermalenergystorage

TIC

Totalinstalledcost

TPC

Totalplantcost

TRL

Technologyreadinesslevel

VRB

Vanadiumredoxflowbattery

CONTENTS

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1.Introduction 1

Motivation 1

Approach 2

ActionableLDESInformationforIndustryStakeholders 2

UtilityResourcePlanning 3

2.SurveyDevelopment 5

3.TRLAssessment 6

4.DataCollectionandReview 7

DataCollection 7

DataReview 7

TRLAssessment 7

CostInformation 7

ResourceCharacteristics 8

5.DataAnalysis 9

TechnologyCategorization 9

IntradayElectrochemicalEnergyStorage 9

IntradayCompressedGasEnergyStorage 12

IntradayPumpedHeatEnergyStorage 14

Multi-DayEnergyStorage 16

ThermalEnergyStorage 17

DataNormalisation 20

NormalisingCoststoaCommonDesignBasis 20

NormalisingCoststoaCommonLocation 21

CostDataAggregatedResults 21

IntradayElectrochemicalEnergyStorage 23

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IntradayCompressedGasEnergyStorage 25

IntradayPumpedHeatEnergyStorage 27

Multi-DayEnergyStorage 29

ThermalEnergyStorage 30

CostReferences 33

6.SummaryandConclusions 35

KeyConclusions 35

Recommendations 36

7.References 37

A.BlankSurvey 38

Instructions,ItemDescriptionsWorksheet 39

Power-to-PowerSurveyWorksheet 41

Power-to-HeatSurveyWorksheet 43

B.TRLCriteria 45

C.DetailsonScalingCosts 47

LISTOFFIGURES

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Figure1.Rangein2025and2030TPCin$/kWhforIntradayElectrochemical

EnergyStoragecategory v

Figure2.Rangein2025and2030TPCin$/kWhforIntradayCompressedGas

EnergyStoragecategory v

Figure3.Rangein2030TPCin$/kWhforIntradayPumpedHeatEnergy

Storagecategory vi

Figure4.Rangein2030TPCin$/kWhforMulti-DayEnergyStoragecategory vi

Figure5.Rangein2025and2030TPCin$/kWhthforThermalEnergyStorage

category vii

Figure6.SimplifieddiagramofaNaSbatterycell 10

Figure7.DiagramofaVRB 11

Figure8.Rangein2025and2030TPCin$/kWhforIntradayElectrochemical

EnergyStoragecategory 25

Figure9.Rangein2025and2030TPCin$/kWhforIntradayCompressedGas

EnergyStoragecategory 27

Figure10.Rangein2030TPCin$/kWhforIntradayPHEScategory 28

Figure11.Rangein2030TPCin$/kWhforMulti-DayEnergyStoragecategory 30

Figure12.Rangein2025and2030TPCin$/kWhthforThermalEnergyStorage

category 32

LISTOFTABLES

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Table1.ResourcecharacteristicsforIntradayElectrochemicalEnergyStorage

technologies 12

Table2.ResourcecharacteristicsforIntradayCompressedGasEnergyStorage

technologies 14

Table3.ResourcecharacteristicsforIntradayPHEStechnologiesinP2P

configuration 16

Table4.ResourcecharacteristicsforMulti-DayEnergyStoragetechnologies 17

Table5.ResourcecharacteristicsforTEStechnologies 20

Table6.Scaledsizesfortechnologycategories 21

Table7.Aggregated2025costdataforIntradayElectrochemicalEnergyStorage

category 24

Table8.Aggregated2030costdataforIntradayElectrochemicalEnergyStorage

category 24

Table9.Aggregated2025costdataforIntradayCompressedGasEnergy

Storagecategory 26

Table10.Aggregated2030costdataforIntradayCompressedGasEnergy

Storagecategory 26

Table11.Aggregated2030costdataforIntradayPHEScategory 28

Table12.Aggregated2030costdataforMulti-DayEnergyStoragecategory 29

Table13.Aggregated2025costdataforTEScategory 31

Table14.Aggregated2030costdataforTEScategory 31

Table15.2025costreferencesforLFPlithium-ionandPSH 34

INTRODUCTION

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Motivation

Utilities,energycompanies,industrialcompanies,andelectricityconsumershavea

diversesetofpathwaystoachievetheirsystemreliability,energyaffordability,and

decarbonizationgoals.Therapidgrowthofenergyconsumptiondrivenbydatacentres,theuseofartificialintelligence,andthetrendtowardselectrificationisdrivingthesearchfornewsourcesofscalable,dispatchablepowerandheat.Longdurationenergy

storage(LDES)isanenablerfortheseobjectivesandisimportantforcompaniesto

consideraspartofaportfolioofsolutions.LDEScomprisesanarrayofprimarily

developingenergystoragetechnologiesthataspiretobeavailableatlowercoststhanalternativetechnologiesandcapableofprovidingdiverseservicesrequiredtokeepthegridstableandreliableandtheenergyindustrysustainable.LDEScanprovidearangeofenergyservicesincludingelectricalenergy,capacity,resilience,balancingand

reserves,andlow-carbonheat.WhenconsideringLDES,itisimportanttostartwiththedesiredusecaseinmind,thenselectthetechnologythatcanbestprovidetheserviceswhenneeded[1].

LDESiscomplementarytothegrowingfleetofgridenergystorageresourcescurrentlyrepresentedalmostentirelybylithium-ionbatteriesandpumpedstoragehydropower,

whichserveascriticalbenchmarksforevaluatingemergingLDEStechnologies.LDESiscommonlydefinedasatechnologythatstoresenergyandthendispatchesitas

power,heat,orcoolingforextendedperiodsoftime,rangingfrom8hourstodays,

weeks,orseasons.Manyshort-durationenergystoragesystemscanbeoperatedlike

LDESiftheyaredischargedatlowerpowerlevels.However,theymaylackthelow

marginalcapitalcostforenergycapacity(lowcapitalcostperaddedhourofduration)

thatischaracteristicofmanyLDEStechnologytypes.Similarly,LDEScanperform

servicesthatrequireshorterstoragedurationsbutmightcostmoreperkilowattofpowercapacitythanashort-durationsystem.

Itisimportanttoperformathoroughcost-benefitanalysiswhenconsideringthe

selectionofanLDEStechnologytomeetadesiredusecase.TheneedforlongerLDESisgrowing,butthecommercialavailabilityofmanyLDEStechnologiesisstillnascent.Infact,someutilitiesarebeginningtoconsidersimplyprocuringlonger-durationlithium-ionbatterysystemsconfiguredfor8-houroreven12-hourdurations.Lithium-ionbattery

technologyiscapableofperformingthisrole;simplyaddingmorebatterymodulesthatfeedintoanexistinginverterwouldmakeitpossible.However,doubling(ortripling)thedurationoflithium-ionbatterysystemalmostdoubles(ortriples)thecapitalcosts

becausethereislittleeconomyofscaleforaddingenergystoragecapacity(themarginalcostofaddingdurationishigh,unlikemanyLDEStechnologies).LDES

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technologiesareexpectedtobelowercostatlongerduration,buthowmuchlower?Andifnot,willtheaddedbenefitsofthelongerdurationoutweighthecosts?

Toanswerthesequestions,itiscriticaltohavehigh-qualitydataonthecostofLDES

technologies.However,thepublicavailabilityofLDESdataislimited.Inparticular,moreaccuratedepictionsofcosts,evenatahighlevel,aredifficulttoascertainwithout

informationfromcompaniesthataredevelopingtheLDEStechnologies.

Approach

TogainmoreinsightsintocostdataforrepresentativeLDEStechnologies,theLDESCouncilissuedasurveytoitstechnologydevelopermembersrequestingcurrenthigh-levelperformancemetricsandcapitalandoperatingandmaintenance(O&M)costsfortheirpreferredcommercialprojectsizeinapower-to-power(P2P)orapower-to-heat(P2H)application,dependingonthetechnology.

Inadditiontoperformanceandcostdata,thesurveyrequestedrespondentstoprovidetheirtechnology’scurrenttechnologyreadinesslevel(TRL).Performanceandcostdatawererequestedfortwocontractyearbases–2025and2030–withtheintenttohavetechnologiesatTRL4or5toprovideexpected2030costsandthoseatTRL6and

abovetoprovide2025costs.Theyearforthecostestimateisthedateaprojectwouldbecontracted,e.g.,“noticetoproceed”or“finalinvestmentdecision.”Theexpected

2030costsarereportedin2025dollars.

Datacollectedfromthesurveywerereviewedandanalysed,andtheresultshavebeenaggregatedandsummarisedinthisreport.Thenamesofindividualtechnology

developersarenotincludedgivenconfidentialityrestrictions.However,thedatais

presentedinanaggregatedformatwithrelatedtechnologiesincludedinseveralbroadtechnologycategories.Thisapproachstillresultsinactionableinformationregardingthecurrentandexpectedcost,performance,andmaturityofLDEStechnologies.

ActionableLDESInformationforIndustryStakeholders

UnderstandingtheperformanceandcostmetricsofemergingLDEStechnologiesisvaluabletoawiderangeofstakeholdersincludinginvestors,industrialenergyusers,policymakers,customers,andutilitiesorindependentpowerproducers.Potential

benefitsinclude:

?Investors

?RiskAssessmentandReturnonInvestment:Metricslikeround-tripefficiency(RTE)andcapitalcosthelpinvestorsevaluatethefinancialviabilityandexpectedreturnsofLDESprojects.

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-TechnologyComparison:Comparisonsacrosstechnologiesassistguidinginvestmenttowardthemostpromisingoptions.

-MarketTiming:Costtrendsandperformanceimprovementssignalwhenatechnologyisreadyforscale-uporcommercialization.

-DueDiligence:Detailedperformanceandcostdatasupportmoreinformeddecisionsduringmergers,acquisitions,orventurefunding.

?IndustrialEnergyUsers(includingdatacentres)

-EnergyResilience:High-efficiency,cost-effectiveLDEScanensureuninterruptedpowerduringoutagesorpeakdemandperiods.

-CostOptimization:Understandingcapitalandoperatingandmaintenancecostshelpsinbudgetingandreducingenergyexpenses.

-SustainabilityGoals:Performancemetricshelpalignwithcarbonreductiontargetsbyintegratingrenewableswithreliablestorage.

-GridIndependence:CombiningLDESwithon-sitepowergenerationenablesstrategicplanningformicrogridsorbehind-the-meterstoragesolutions.

?Policymakers

-InformedRegulation:Performanceandcostdatasupportthecreationofincentives,subsidies,andstandardsthatpromoteviabletechnologies.

-EnergyPlanning:DetailedLDESinformationhelpsinmodelingfuturegridscenariosandplanningfordecarbonizationpathways.

-PublicSpendingJustification:Transparentmetricsjustifypublicinvestmentsorgrantsinemergingtechnologies.

-EquityandAccess:Costdatacaninformpoliciesthatensureequitableaccesstocleanenergystoragesolutions.

?Utilities

-GridReliability:RTEandoperationalcostshelputilitiesassesshowLDEScansupportgridstability,frequencyregulation,andpeakshaving.

-RateDesign:Costinsightshelputilitiesdesigntariffsthatreflectthevalueofstoragetothegrid.

-TechnologyProcurement:CostandperformanceinformationforLDES

technologiesfacilitatescompetitivebiddingandselectionofstoragetechnologiesbasedonlifecyclecostandperformance.

UtilityResourcePlanning

Electricutilitiesaroundtheworldroutinelyengageinstructured,long-termplanningtoensuretheycanmeetfutureenergydemandinareliable,cost-effective,and

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sustainablemanner.Thisplanningprocesstypicallyspansa10-to20-yearhorizonandresultsinacomprehensiveutilityresourceplanthatoutlinesprojecteddemandgrowth,resourcerequirements,andrecommendedinvestmentstrategies.

Theutilityresourceplanservesasbothastrategicroadmapforinternaldecision-makingand,inmanyjurisdictions,aregulatoryorpolicysubmission.Ithelpsutilitiesaligninfrastructuredevelopmentwithnationalorregionalenergygoals.

Keyinputstotheplanningprocessinclude:

?Forecastsofelectricitydemandandloadgrowth

?Climateandweathervariability

?Fuelandenergypriceprojections

?Policyandregulatorymandates

?Cost,performance,andavailabilityofgenerationandenergystoragetechnologies

Utilitiesusetheseinputstomodelmultiplefuturescenarios,eachreflectingdifferenteconomic,technological,andpolicyconditions.Theplanningprocessoftenincludesstakeholderengagement,regulatoryconsultation,andpublicinputtoensure

transparencyandalignmentwithbroadersocietalobjectives.

Todate,dataavailabilityformanyemergingLDEStechnologiesisstilllimited,

constrainingresourceplanninganalyses.ThecostsurveydescribedinthisreportcanhelpmitigatethislackofinformationbyprovidingdetaileddataonLDEStechnologies,enablingplannerstoassesstheircompetitivenessandpotentialroleandinclusioninfutureresourceportfolios.

KeyInformationPoint

ThecostsurveydescribedinthisreportprovidessomeofthedatarequiredforsystemplannerstoincludeemergingLDEStechnologiesintheirscenariomodelingandplanningefforts.

Utilities,systemoperators,andmodelersinterestedinlearningmoreaboutspecifictechnologiesincludedinthisstudymayreachouttotheLDESCounciltobeconnectedwithrelevanttechnologydevelopers.

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1.SURVEYDEVELOPMENT

EPRIandtheLDESCouncildevelopedthesurveythattheLDESCouncilsenttoasubsetofitstechnologymembers.Thesurveywasdesignedspecificallytobe

informativeaboutcostandhigh-leveloperationaldata.Thesurveyrequestedthefollowingdata:

?CapitalandO&MCosts:Costsbrokendownbycategoryandsubsystem,includingcontingency,storagesystem,chargesystem,dischargesystem,balance-of-plant

(BOP),sitework,controls,andfixedandvariableO&Mcosts

?ProjectSizeandDuration:Informationforacommercial-scalesizeoftheenergystoragesystem.Ifflexible,respondentswereaskedtousea10-hourduration

resourceanda100MWdischargecapacity.

?ResourceCharacteristics:Lifetime,RTE,storagecapacityinMWh,charginganddischargingcapacitiesinMW,chargeanddischargedurations,degradationrate,

anddepthofdischarge

?TRL:Developer’sassessmentofthecurrentTRLoftheirtechnology

Thefullsurveys,includinginstructionsanditemdescriptions,areincludedinAppendix

A

.

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2.TRLASSESSMENT

Basedontheassumptionthatorganizationsmayusedifferentcriteriaforassessing

TRL,EPRIindependentlyassessedtheTRLforthetechnologiesintheLDESCouncil’ssurveyscopebasedonadocumentedsetofcriteriathatwasoriginallydevelopedbytheNationalAeronauticsandSpaceAdministrationandadaptedbyEPRItoassessthereadinessandtrackthedevelopmentofenergystoragetechnologies[2].EPRI’sTRLcriteriaareincludedinAppendix

B

andconsistsofthefollowingnineTRLs:

1.TRL-1BasicPrinciplesObservedandReported

2.TRL-2FormulationoftheApplication

3.TRL-3Proof-of-Concept

4.TRL-4ComponentValidationinaLaboratoryEnvironment

5.TRL-5ComponentValidation–PertinentTechnologyComponentsareValidatedinaRelevantEnvironment

6.TRL-6ProcessDevelopmentUnit–ConsistsofPrototypeComponentsinaRelevantEnvironment

7.TRL-7PilotPlant–Integrated,FullyFunctionalPrototypethatIncorporatesAlloftheFeaturesoftheAnticipatedFull-ScaleDeploymentinanOperationalEnvironment

8.TRL-8CommercialPilotPlant–DeploymentoftheTechnologyinItsFinalFormandUnderExpectedConditions

9.TRL-9CommercialPlant–NormalCommercialService

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3.DATACOLLECTIONANDREVIEW

DataCollection

TheLDESCouncilwasresponsibleforsendingthesurveytoandcollectingcompletedsurveysfromitsmembers.ThecompletedsurveyswereprovidedtoEPRI,limitedtotheteamsupportingthestudy,toreviewandanalysethesubmitteddata.

DataReview

Allthesurveyswerereviewedtoensurethesubmitteddataalignedwithvaluesthathavealreadybeencollectedindependentlythroughothermeansorwithcommon

industrypractice,e.g.,applicationofcostcontingencies.

TRLAssessment

EPRIcomparedthedevelopers’reportedTRLwithitsownindependentassessments.DuringtheinterviewsbetweentheLDESCouncil,EPRI,andthesurveyrespondents,

differencesinTRLassessmentsbyEPRIandrespondentswerediscussed,whereeachsharedthesupportingdocumentationorbasesthatwereusedtodeterminetheTRL.Inallcases,therespondentsagreedtouseEPRI’sTRLcriteriaandassessment,sothatalltechnologieswereevaluatedonaconsistentbasis,improvingcomparabilityacross

differenttechnologies.

CostInformation

CapitalCosts

Itisimportanttoclearlydefinewhatisincludedinthereportedcapitalcostofagiven

LDEStechnologyusedinthisreport.ThisstudyfollowstheUnitedStatesDepartmentofEnergy’sNationalEnergyTechnologyLaboratory(NETL)definitionsforcapitalcosts[3].Thesurveyreportscapitalcostsusingtotalplantcosts(TPC)orcapitalexpenditure

(CAPEX).TPCcomprisesthecostofdeliveredprocessequipment,on-sitefacilities,

andinfrastructurethatsupporttheplant(e.g.,shops,offices,labs,roads),andthedirectandindirectlabourrequiredforitsconstructionand/orinstallationplusthecostof

engineering,procurement,andconstructionservicesandcontingencies.Respondentswererequestedtoprovidecostsusingthecoststructureprovided,i.e.,TPC,

contingency,andsixsubsystemcosts.Inmanycases,therespondentsprovidedcostsusingthesuggestedbreakdown,buttherewereafewcaseswhereonlyaTPCvalueorafewsubsystemcostswereprovided,limitingthecapitalcostanalysistoaTPCbasis.Contingencieswerealsoreviewedtoensurethatthevaluesprovidedwere

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commensuratewitheachtechnologydeveloper’scertaintylevelofthecostestimateorlevelofcommercialprojectdesigndefinition.AACEcostestimatingguidelines[4]weresharedwiththedevelopersfortypicalcontingencyvalues.

Respondentswereaskedtoprovidethecertaintylevel(i.e.,low,medium,orhigh)of

theircostestimate.Themajorityofthecostestimateswereprov