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Remind me why they're using Li-ion batteries, which have a primary advantage of being light, when they could use cheaper, heavier, and less flammable alternativ

Remind me why they're using Li-ion batteries, which have a primary advantage of being light, when they could use cheaper, heavier, and less flammable alternatives?

awjr 9y ago
As with anything I suspect that this is to do with economies of scale. Delivering a 100MW battery installation in under 6 months is challenging. Being able to achieve this using their current manufacturing base is impressive. That's not to say Li-ion batteries are ideal, but right now, at this moment in time, this is probably the only way of achieving a solution in under 6 months. I believe the newer Glass batteries [1] will be the long term solution for this type of installation, but they are some years off, and South Australia has a problem that needs solving this year. [1] http://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/energy/renewables/does-new-glass-battery-accelerate-the-end-of-oil http://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/energy/renewables/does-n...
- mtgx 9y ago
  And with Li-Ion battery capacity predicted to increase about 10x by 2025, as everyone and their dog starts building a battery factory to serve the EV market, prices for Li-Ion batteries should drop several fold by then. So it makes sense to start adopting Li-Ion batteries into your utility infrastructure.
breser 9y ago
Probably because Li-ion batteries don't have much of a memory effect and don't discharge on their own much. I don't think there is such a thing as a less flammable alternative, ultimately you're storing a lot of energy. Energy means potential for fire. Finally, I doubt these have the same chemistry as what they're putting in cars. There are a lot of Li-ion chemistries that are suited to different applications. It's more of a class of chemistries than a single specific one. Some Li-ion chemistries are cheaper and heavier than others but have longer lifetimes.
deleted 9y ago
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Remind me why they're using Li-ion batteries, which have a primary advantage of being light, when they could use cheaper, heavier, and less flammable alternatives?

awjr 9y ago

As with anything I suspect that this is to do with economies of scale. Delivering a 100MW battery installation in under 6 months is challenging. Being able to achieve this using their current manufacturing base is impressive. That's not to say Li-ion batteries are ideal, but right now, at this moment in time, this is probably the only way of achieving a solution in under 6 months. I believe the newer Glass batteries [1] will be the long term solution for this type of installation, but they are some years off, and South Australia has a problem that needs solving this year. [1] http://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/energy/renewables/does-new-glass-battery-accelerate-the-end-of-oil http://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/energy/renewables/does-n...

mtgx 9y ago
And with Li-Ion battery capacity predicted to increase about 10x by 2025, as everyone and their dog starts building a battery factory to serve the EV market, prices for Li-Ion batteries should drop several fold by then. So it makes sense to start adopting Li-Ion batteries into your utility infrastructure.

breser 9y ago

Probably because Li-ion batteries don't have much of a memory effect and don't discharge on their own much. I don't think there is such a thing as a less flammable alternative, ultimately you're storing a lot of energy. Energy means potential for fire. Finally, I doubt these have the same chemistry as what they're putting in cars. There are a lot of Li-ion chemistries that are suited to different applications. It's more of a class of chemistries than a single specific one. Some Li-ion chemistries are cheaper and heavier than others but have longer lifetimes.

deleted 9y ago

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