4 ms·
Savvy grid operators are deploying large battery installations to meet demand spikes, mitigating some of the issues around that. Also the amount of solar and wi
by natch 6y ago
Savvy grid operators are deploying large battery installations to meet demand spikes, mitigating some of the issues around that. Also the amount of solar and wind energy installations is only going to increase going forward, so no worries. Still, plenty to do.
- baq 6y agoin this case texas is net short gigawatts. the largest grid scale battery ever built wouldn't last an hour. you'd have to have 20 to get through the night.
- pfdietz 6y agoWhat batteries could do here is allow the grid to operate closer to maximum, without having to hold as much generating capacity in reserve in case some generator goes offline. The batteries could keep the grid going until some load could be shed.
- natch 6y agoHow many gigawatts we talking? The largest grid scale battery ever built will deliver 1.2GW per hour. I'd say 20 of those would certainly do the trick, and then some. Might be able to get by with 10 or so. They would save rate payers a bucket of money as well; the largest grid scale battery ever built that you mention is projected to offer cost savings of $100 million over its 20 year lifespan versus the alternatives; not bad at all. As far as the up front cost, it's pocket change for a state like Texas, and they could use it in the summer as well.
- baq 6y agomy back of the napkin chart-to-eyeball calculations point to a 10-20 GW deficit. i absolutely agree that not buying these batteries is just plain stupid, therefore the chance of them not getting bought is significant.