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The interesting question is what happens if battery prices continue to decline so that $XY,000 becomes $X000 and thereby less than grid fees. Low generation ca
by zrm 5y ago
The interesting question is what happens if battery prices continue to decline so that $XY,000 becomes $X000 and thereby less than grid fees.
Low generation can be solved with an inexpensive gas generator for use in emergencies the likes of which might see three days use in a year.
- s1artibartfast 5y agoI don't think the grid can ever go away. Regional solar is just too variable. You might get backup for a day, but storage costs scale linearly with duration.
- vkou 5y agoIf battery fees get lower than peaker plant-related grid fees, then grids will shut down peaker plants and instead buy warehouses full of batteries.
- zrm 5y agoAren't some significant fraction of grid fees the grid itself? The land, paying linemen to repair storm damage, the administrative apparatus to negotiate with everyone and collect payments. You still need all of that if you put all the batteries together in a warehouse, not if you put them in each person's basement.
- vkou 5y agoThose costs are still significant lower than building XY square feet of basement, that you now can't use for anything, because its space is physically occupied by electric infrastructure. Again, economies of scale.
- zrm 5y agoDon't you still need the same amount of space at the warehouse? Tesla Powerwall 2 appears to be <5 cubic feet. That doesn't seem like a lot.