Integrating solar power with the grid is a more difficult challenge than many might imagine. With home use of solar power increasing pressure on the grid, creative solutions will be needed to fully integrate this power source: battery storage is one.

As solar power grows as a percentage of energy produced in the U.S., the issue of intermittency has emerged as a hurdle to integration. To overcome this hurdle, solar energy must be stored for more efficient use.

This discussion covers important aspects of energy storage research developments and career development essentials.

The solution with the greatest potential for solving the intermittency problem is battery storage. With the technology advancing at a rapid pace, batteries have the potential to store large amounts of power to distribute where and when needed.

Catherine McKalip-Thompson, manager of sustainability for Bechtel Infrastructure, describes trends in sustainable building design, smart cities and the integration of engineering, architecture and planning.

Yoshinobu Shibata, president and CEO of Mitsubishi Nuclear Energy Systems, discusses the challenges of nuclear power production competing against low-cost natural gas and how it can gain greater acceptance.