Approved by the Energy, Environment, and Water Policy Committee on February 1, 2026 
Approved by the Public Policy and Practice Committee on June 10, 2026
Adopted by the Board of Direction on July 21, 2026

Policy

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) supports the planning, development, modernization, and resiliency improvements of energy storage systems (ESS) as critical infrastructure components necessary to strengthen the reliability of the United States’ (U.S.) electric grid. ASCE supports:

  • Development and implementation of engineering standards, codes, and best practices for the design, siting, construction, operation, and decommissioning of ESS.
  • Investment in resilient, reliable, and secure ESS infrastructure to enhance grid stability and support critical infrastructure.
  • Market and regulatory frameworks that recognize and appropriately value the full range of services provided by ESS, including grid stabilization, peak shaving, resilience, and distributed generation support.
  • Equitable deployment of ESS that considers community safety, environmental protection, and long-term economic sustainability.
  • Research, workforce development, and education initiatives to support innovation and responsible deployment of emerging ESS technologies.
  • Lifecycle management practices addressing responsible materials sourcing, recycling and reuse, fire protection, environmental safeguards, and safe decommissioning, and
  • ESS deployment guided by rigorous risk assessment, hazard mitigation planning, and coordination with local authorities having jurisdiction to ensure public safety.

Issue

Energy storage systems ESS have been utilized for decades with pumped hydroelectric storage representing one of the earliest and most widely deployed technologies. Today, ESS technologies include electrochemical batteries, super-capacitors, thermal storage, mechanical storage, compressed air, and other emerging technologies. While lithium-ion batteries and pumped hydroelectric storage are commercially mature, many next generation technologies are in early stages of commercialization.

Different ESS technologies offer varying advantages depending on application, cost, duration, power rating, geographic constraints, and system requirements. As reliance on intermittent renewable energy sources such as solar and wind increases, ESS is essential to maintain electric grid reliability power quality, and operational flexibility. 

ESS contribute to grid modernization by:

  • Supporting integration of distributed energy resources
  • Reducing transmission congestion
  • Enabling microgrid development, and
  • Enhancing resilience against extreme weather events and cyber-physical threats.

Despite these benefits, regulatory, market, and permitting barriers can limit ESS deployment. Policies must evolve to fully recognize ESS as a distinct asset class that plays a central role in modern grid architecture and electricity markets.

Rationale

Energy storage systems enhance grid reliability, support infrastructure resilience, improve power quality, and enable more efficient use of existing generation and transmission assets. ESS reduce strain during peak demand, supports disaster recovery, and increase operational flexibility.

As climate variability, electrification, and aging infrastructure place increasing demands on electric systems, ESS are critical infrastructure components requiring sound civil engineering practice and public policy support. Properly designed and regulated ESS are essential to advancing grid modernization, improving resilience, and facilitating the transition to a more flexible and sustainable energy system.

ASCE Policy Statement 572
First approved in 2023