gas turbines are used. Since a utility must have sufficient electric generating capacity to meet the peak demand characteristic of the electric load in the area served, a significant portion of the generating capacity remains idle during periods of normal demand. However, electric energy generated at night or during other times of low demand (base load) could be stored for later use during times of high demand (peak load). Future storage units could improve overall fuel utilization and operating economy by increasing the base load, thereby allowing larger and more efficient generating units to produce a greater fraction of the total power generated. This benefit is especially important with the widespread implementation of nuclear power, since high capital costs and operating considerations make it desirable to operate nuclear plants continuously as base load plant. It has been estimated that by the mid-1980*s 6% of the delivered electricity in the United States could come from energy stored in batteries, hydrogen, flywheels, sensible or latent heat, compressed air, and magnetic fields. Economic justification for utility storage devices has been examined by the utilities and others (Reference K5) . A Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) survey shows significant cost benefits when 10 to 50 percent of the expected mid-1980*s gas turbine capacity is replaced by a 60 percent efficient "black box" storage device costing $300/kW (1970 dollars). Annual cost savings of approximately $100,000,000 to $500,000,000 respectively, result primarily due to a saving in oil which would normally be used in the gas turbine. The electric utilities have more capital (60 percent of total) invested in transmission and distribution facilities than in generating equipment. Siting energy storage units throughout the power system would reduce requirements for new transmission and distribution facilities and could provide significant capital cost savings (Reference K6). Storage technologies applied to transportation systems would allow the introduction of vehicles which do not require fossil fuel. By using off-peak electric power to power vehicles petroleum consumption and environmental emission would be reduced (Reference K7). R&D is needed for
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