A Deep Dive Into Battery Energy Storage Units and Renewable Energy

Solar panels in front of wind mills Renewable energy relies on battery storage to provide consistent power. For example, solar power requires support at night and on overcast days. Wind power is similarly reliant on the strength of the wind. That means that in order to be a full replacement for fossil-fuel-based power, green energy needs batteries that can store a large amount of energy with minimal loss. As the need for batteries increases, the technology behind them is also changing. In this article, you’ll learn about current energy storage technology as well as some ideas for the future.  

Facts About Battery Energy Storage 

Battery storage for major renewable energy plants is not like the batteries you have at home. They are much larger. For example, at Moss Landing Power Plant in California, a 300-megawatt lithium-ion battery is being built to hold power from many nearby solar and wind farms. Once constructed, the plant will add another 100-megawatt batter. In total the battery will have 400MW/1600MW/hr capacity upon completion. These two batteries will be able to power 300,000 homes when energy demand outpaces supply.   Technological progress has made it so we can construct massive-scale batteries safely. There are still some risks associated with lithium-ion technology, though, such as fire and explosions, so proper care must be taken. Usually, that means controlling heat, as a thermal runaway is the primary cause of these issues. 

Lithium-Ion Batteries 

The major battery technology used in concert with renewable energy sources is that which is found in lithium-ion batteries. While they do run the risk of accidents, no technology is without some level of risk. These batteries offer an excellent solution for storing renewable energy as they are relatively low-cost. There are other advantages of these batteries, too, including: 
  • Lightweight: Lead and acid options weigh at least twice as much as lithium-ion batteries. Transportation and handling are simpler for low-weight options. 
  • Lifespan: Depending on the use case and the manufacturing details of a lithium-ion battery, they may last as long as 15-20 years. Many Lithium-ion batteries can be re-purposed for “second-Life” use in lower-demand applications such as residential energy storage. 
  • Simple replacement: At the end of their lifespan, these batteries can simply be swapped out with new ones, causing little disruption to the overall system. 
  • Low maintenance: A lithium-ion battery in consumer applications typically does not need maintenance. In industrial applications, it needs very little maintenance. 
  • End of Life: Some recycling methods are available but production still heavily outweighs reclamation, please dispose of your household batteries properly so as to not contaminate our landfills further. 
While there are many advantages to lithium-ion batteries, we still need to ensure the effective use of the technology. Pumped Hydro (i.e. “reservoir batteries”), still outweighs global lithium energy storage by a factor of +10x due to its’ scalability and sustainability). Chemical energy storage such as Lithium has the ability to inject large amounts of power at a very fast response rate whereas typical forms of power generation can take several minutes to ramp up output which can lead to brownouts. 

The Future of Energy Storage Beyond Lithium Batteries 

In our search for better ways to store energy generated by green power sources, there are many potential leads. Right now, some of the most promising options that are being developed include: 
  • Burning ammonia for fuel (it is carbon-free) 
  • Sodium-ion batteries 
  • Liquid air storage 
  • Aluminum- Air & Iron-Air batteries (early development) 

Work with VCM Solutions 

Looking for a power generation expert that keeps the environment in mind?   VCM Solutions can help you with your energy storage and power generation needs. Reach out to us today! 

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