Technology Tuesday: Battery Storage

Here’s the $64,000 question: should I incorporate battery storage? 

 The short answer to that question is MAYBE!  That is, most likely, not the answer you were looking for but the reality is, every situation is different.  Let’s discuss some of the benefits of battery storage and you can make that decision for yourself. 

  1. Environmental:  Battery storage improves the overall efficiency of the power grid.  Any increase in efficiency will result in reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and, in some cases, eliminate them altogether. 

  2. Demand charge reduction:  Demand accounts for a facility’s peak usage however, energy efficiency and renewable energy generation do not fully address demand.  Energy storage allows for stored energy to be used and eliminates the need to use the grid during peak times. 

  3. Participation in demand response programs:  Utilities have programs where they offer additional incentives to reduce the amount of demand on the grid during peak times.  Energy storage allows for participation in these programs. 

  4. Maximizing time-of-use rates:  Energy storage allows customers to shift their overall usage to time when the rates are the least expensive.  This practice saves tremendously. 

  5. Emergency backup (resilience):  It is imperative to update energy systems from time-to-time with newer technology.  Older technology, such as, diesel or natural gas generators are not as reliable as battery storage simply because they are only used in emergencies as opposed to daily as in the case with batteries. 

  6. Utility Incentives:  It’s always nice to get free money.  In California, the most abundant source of renewable energy is solar.  This explains why solar panels are EVERYWHERE.  However, public utilities in California do not provide incentives for solar generation but they do, currently, offer incentives for storing that energy. 

 Primarily, the drawbacks to battery storage is cost and complexity; most people just don’t know where to start.  However, there are definitely far more pros than cons with battery storage.  You can lean on METU to point you in the right direction. 

 Sources: 

https://www.facilitiesnet.com/energyefficiency/article/Five-Benefits-of-Energy-Storage-The-Holy-Grail-of-Energy--16907  

 

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SJVCEOTechnology Tuesday, Battery Storage, demand response, emergency backup