What is battery storage?
Battery storage, like traditional pumped storage, involves storing energy in some way. Although 90% of the world’s energy storage is still pumped hydro, battery storage is gradually emerging as the main method of new energy storage. Batteries store energy by converting chemical energy into electrical energy and mobilize it flexibly to support the grid during periods of peak energy demand.
Lithium batteries are gradually gaining attention for their high energy efficiency, multiple cycles, and long life.
What is utility-scale battery storage?
Utility-scale battery storage is much larger compared to home battery storage. While home energy storage systems are often measured in kilowatt-hours, utility-scale battery storage is primarily measured in megawatt-hours (one megawatt-hour = 1,000 kilowatt-hours). Utility-scale battery storage is considered to be any type of battery storage with a capacity of “a few megawatt-hours”. Our home solar batteries have a battery capacity of about 5 kWh. Some utility-scale battery storage may have a rated capacity of 20 MWh for 4 hours, which means it can store up to 80 MWh of usable electricity.
In the past, utility-scale storage has been provided through pumped storage, for example. However, with the falling cost of battery storage and the development of renewable energy sources, utility-scale battery storage is gradually taking over.
What are the advantages of utility-scale battery storage?
1. Battery storage can support the grid in a variety of ways.
2. Battery storage offers unprecedented flexibility, as battery storage can inject power into the grid in milliseconds.
3. Utility-scale electronic storage paired with renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power greatly improves grid stability and reliability. Renewable energy sources are excellent for producing cheap, clean energy, but they can be ineffective when subjected to extreme weather conditions. Utility-scale battery storage enables the export of resources, ensuring timely injection into the grid when needed.
4. Lithium batteries are gradually gaining attention for their significant advantages such as high energy efficiency, multi-cycling, long life and safety.
5. As a result of technological developments, the cost of producing and installing these batteries has fallen, resulting in a significant reduction in the price of large storage systems used by utilities. Then both utilities and their customers will enjoy cheaper prices.
6. Utility-scale battery storage reduces the impact on the environment, and because it allows more renewable energy to be added to the grid, it reduces the use of fossil fuels.
Efficiency of utility-scale battery storage and its lifespan
1. efficiency: according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in 2019, utility-scale battery storage in the U.S. has an average monthly round-trip rate of 82%, meaning that for every 100 kWh of electricity stored, only 82 kWh will be readily available for use.
2. Lifespan: Utility-scale lifespan is often influenced by battery type, charging and discharging cycles, operating temperatures, and maintenance procedures. Typically, utility-scale batteries typically last 5 to 15 years. Currently, lithium-ion battery storage may have a longer life and higher performance.
