Storing green energy for the future
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The future of energy is green. It needs to be as the impact of fossil fuels can clearly be seen in the effects of climate change. Greenhouse gasses are causing a steady rise in global warming, and the need to move away from damaging ‘brown energy’ is more pressing than ever.
But the source of renewable energy is also a potential problem. The UK weather isn’t consistent and we need to be able to provide energy at all times, not just when the wind blows or the sun shines.
Battery storage makes it possible to get the energy we need at a time that suits us. Our Smart Grids Team looks at ways for us to achieve a greener, more stable grid, and battery storage plays a vital role. We spoke to Peter, our Smart Grids Aggregation Analyst, to find out more.
What is battery storage?
Quite simply, it’s a way to keep any excess energy that’s generated – so if the wind and sun makes more energy than you need, you can hold on to the extra for use at another time. It’s especially useful in mobile devices such as laptops, phones and electric cars where you don’t want to be permanently plugged in. And with the advancements in battery technology over the last 20 years, it won’t be long before there’s a suitable product to use in our homes.
What are Ecotricity doing to develop battery storage?
We’ve been working on a home battery storage system for customers to get the most benefit from their renewable generation. As well as seeking a design that’s technically sound, a major focus has been on finding something that’s cost effective. The fact is, battery prices are still too high to justify putting one in every home. But if a battery system can be designed to both manage a home’s energy use and offer services to the network, it’s possible that there will be enough of a benefit to pay for it.
Your role sounds complicated, what is it that you do?
My work mainly involves finding ways we can pool together various energy generators and users in a way that allows us to use energy more efficiently. This will form a Virtual Power Plant or Smart Grid of connected units, all doing their bit to help get more renewable generation onto the network and to use it more effectively – this will be achieved even better with battery storage.
Is battery storage possible on both a small and large scale?
Definitely, the only condition really is just the size and where they can be located. Large scale battery storage may be 10MW or more and require several shipping containers full of batteries and other electronics. These are likely to be connected close to substations or anywhere on the network that they’re needed. Business customers may not have space for shipping containers but could perhaps fill a server room or similar with batteries to reach 100kW or so. A home size battery will typically be in the 2-5kW range and be no larger than a washing machine. The batteries themselves may be identical technology in all the above cases, but they’ll be used differently depending on the location and the circumstances of who owns them.
How can it benefit both businesses and homes?
There are three possible ways to bring benefits with battery storage:
If a home or business has their own renewable energy generation, such as wind or solar, they could have batteries installed. Being able to store energy means they would increase the amount of renewable energy they themselves could use. It’d also reduce the amount they give and take from the network, bringing increased energy independence
If they have stored energy that they’re not using, they could offer it to our Smart Grid and get paid for doing so. We’ll then use the energy to support the electricity network
There’s also the possibility of us having our own batteries to put wherever they’re needed most. This will help to stabilise the grid for everyone’s benefit and help bring more renewables online.
What does the future hold for battery storage?
Right now, battery storage is still a relatively niche industry. But as battery prices continue to fall and we become more intelligent about how we use our energy, I believe that batteries and other forms of energy storage will become common place. Exactly when and how this will come about is uncertain, so it’s an exciting time to be working in the sector just as it takes off.
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