Batteries as Energy Storage
Moksha D -
Hi everyone! In my last blog post I discussed various forms of storing renewable energy. Today, I will be focusing on the most efficient form of storage; batteries.
Currently, SRP, Salt River Project, and many other utility companies have found that the best medium of storing energy is batteries which is known as electrochemical storage.
Batteries tend to be cheaper than the other forms of energy and power storage which is why SRP has implemented many sites containing lithium-ion batteries specifically.
Last week, I learned that about 8-10 years ago SRP began to use lithium-ion batteries to store renewable energy as they found it was cheaper and more efficient than the forms I discussed last week.
From a business perspective, SRP does not usually build the batteries themselves. The company buys the machines from vendors around the world. They send their engineers to places around the world like Austria, the Netherlands, and South Korea to inspect and discuss with fellow engineers how the battery will function.
The engineers return with data and provide insight if they believe SRP should buy these batteries which can cost millions.
Batteries, specifically lithium-ion batteries, are the most valuable tool to integrate renewables into the electrical power grid and in the next weeks I will be discussing the technology behind them and the issues that places like SRP still face using them.
Thank you!
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