Wind and solar power are intermittent, meaning that the periods when they generate electricity do not always align with energy demand. Battery energy storage systems combat this challenge and help drive renewable integration into electric power systems.
BESSes provides energy flexibility services to three key stakeholders: energy markets, utilities, and customers. They monetize energy flexibility through ancillary services programs, system services, and energy arbitrage opportunities.
Battery Storage Elements
A battery energy storage system (BESS) is an advanced technology solution that enables energy from renewable sources, such as solar and wind, to be stored and released when electricity demands are high. Using lithium-ion batteries, similar to those used in mobile phones and electric cars, battery energy storage systems are vital for helping electricity grids achieve a steady supply of green power while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
BESSs play a crucial role in unlocking the full potential of renewable energy by addressing intermittency, stabilizing the power grid, and optimizing energy management. These technologies also enhance grid flexibility and enable higher levels of renewable penetration.
As the market for renewable energy expands, battery storage systems are increasingly being integrated into existing or new renewable power plants. Furthermore, to help balance the sporadic nature of renewable energy output, ESSs can be co-located with non-renewable facilities.
Energy storage is a critical tool for renewable energy integration and for accelerating the adoption of EVs. By storing and deploying renewable energy during peak hours, businesses can achieve significant savings on their energy bills. In addition, ESSs can help reduce dependence on the grid and support peak shaving by enabling rapid DC charging to avoid expensive demand charges. Moreover, ESSs can be installed at homes and businesses to provide backup power for critical loads during outages or blackouts.
Battery Stratification
Two possible configurations for battery energy storage systems are “series” and “parallel.” Series connections hook up batteries side by side using one wire, which creates only one path for the electricity to flow. Parallel connections divide the internal resistances of the batteries, allowing for multiple ways for the electricity to flow.
Battery energy storage is essential to renewable energy integration because wind and solar production only sometimes meet power demand. Battery energy storage systems enable the excess generation to be stored and used during peak load times, reducing the need to use fossil fuels.
In addition, the aging of large networks is driving the need for rapid reserve energy that can be quickly deployed and maintained. Battery energy storage systems are an ideal solution for this type of application as they offer high efficiency at a low cost and can be easily sized to match network requirements.
To maximize the value of ESSs in the broader energy landscape, supportive policies and dynamic market structures will be essential. Specifically, policy activities to watch include state storage mandates, battery tax credits, and efforts to streamline interconnection processes and address delays that can hinder ESS deployment of ESSs. Furthermore, a key factor in evaluating the competitiveness of energy storage technologies will be the direction of electricity prices.
Battery Maximization
During the hours when solar and wind generation isn’t producing power, battery storage systems enable the energy to be stored and utilized when production is high, ensuring a steady and reliable power supply. This helps decrease the reliance on fossil fuels and enables us to preserve the planet’s natural resources while powering our future.
Grid Stability: Battery storage systems improve grid stability by regulating frequency and maintaining a stable voltage. They also enable energy consumption shifting by storing excess generation from renewable sources during periods of low demand and using that power at peak demand times.
Maximizing Renewable Energy Resources: Battery storage systems help increase the amount of renewable energy injected into the grid by decreasing curtailment and reducing transmission infrastructure congestion. Faster charging capabilities can be made possible by its near-real-time energy storage and release capabilities, which can facilitate the integration of electric vehicles into our energy system.
Combined with the increasing level of electrification in our economy, battery storage solutions are vital to enabling clean, resilient, and affordable energy everywhere. The accelerated development and widespread adoption of advanced battery technology, such as lithium-ion batteries, will improve energy efficiency, enhance grid reliability, lower emissions, and support the shift to Net-Zero goals. Moreover, emerging technologies like solid-state and flow batteries are expected to bring further improvements in capacity, seasonal balancing, faster response, and durability.
Battery Maintenance
Today’s renewable energy systems require batteries for two distinct functions. First, they need batteries to stabilize the power that they are producing. This is especially true for wind and solar but is also valid for ocean wave and tidal power generators.
Second, they need batteries to connect and discharge to the grid. The grid is the backbone of our energy system, and a robust grid needs to handle high levels of variable generation from renewables and demand surges.
Battery storage systems are ideal for connecting and discharging to the grid. Thanks to their adaptable deployment, they can be implemented in many sizes, ranging from modest residential installations to substantial utility-scale projects. They can even be used in buildings, enabling individuals and businesses to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels by generating electricity using a renewable energy source.
As a result, battery storage technologies are crucial to replacing fossil fuels with clean energy. They help solve one of the biggest challenges of renewables, which is their intermittent nature. Renewable energy is produced when the sun shines, or the wind blows, but these periods sometimes coincide with energy demand. By holding extra power during high production and releasing it during times of high need, battery storage improves the integration of renewables into the grid.
