4 ms·

It's not really correct to call batteries "electric-generating". They store electricity, but don't generate it. Still, if you take the batteries out, solar mak

It's not really correct to call batteries "electric-generating". They store electricity, but don't generate it. Still, if you take the batteries out, solar makes up 75% of the remaining new electric-generating capacity. If you add wind, you get 92%.

gitfan86 3y ago
In some scenarios the solar is only deployed because of batteries being deployed in the same network. The batteries are providing energy when the sun is down.
troymc 3y ago
It seems that the thing they're measuring is the amount of instantaneous power that all the new "sources" could deliver at once, assuming they're able to deliver right then, and at max-output-power. In other words, it's an optimistic measure, but it's not meaningless.
epistasis 3y ago
From the purposes of grid operation, batteries serve both generating and load functions. Having a complete catalog of generating capacity is a standard metric that EIA tracks. So even though batteries can also consume from the grid, it really does make sense to add them to the list of "generation," at least according to the purpose that this generation metric has always served.
- breather 3y ago
  > batteries serve both generating and load functions. Only until they run out of power! Capacity is still the core of their function.
cwal37 3y ago
It’s even a bit funnier than you put it since on net they consume electricity due to round trip efficiency losses. This also can provide something of an interesting discussion with local authorities when trying to site a battery somewhere that has banned new “generating” technologies (typically targeted at wind and solar), since batteries are consuming electricity and can be likened to transmission infrastructure (or physical trade assets which I think some people are enjoying playing with).

4 ms·

It's not really correct to call batteries "electric-generating". They store electricity, but don't generate it. Still, if you take the batteries out, solar mak

by credit_guy 3y ago

gitfan86 3y ago
In some scenarios the solar is only deployed because of batteries being deployed in the same network. The batteries are providing energy when the sun is down.
troymc 3y ago
It seems that the thing they're measuring is the amount of instantaneous power that all the new "sources" could deliver at once, assuming they're able to deliver right then, and at max-output-power. In other words, it's an optimistic measure, but it's not meaningless.
epistasis 3y ago
From the purposes of grid operation, batteries serve both generating and load functions. Having a complete catalog of generating capacity is a standard metric that EIA tracks. So even though batteries can also consume from the grid, it really does make sense to add them to the list of "generation," at least according to the purpose that this generation metric has always served.
- breather 3y ago
  > batteries serve both generating and load functions. Only until they run out of power! Capacity is still the core of their function.
cwal37 3y ago
It’s even a bit funnier than you put it since on net they consume electricity due to round trip efficiency losses. This also can provide something of an interesting discussion with local authorities when trying to site a battery somewhere that has banned new “generating” technologies (typically targeted at wind and solar), since batteries are consuming electricity and can be likened to transmission infrastructure (or physical trade assets which I think some people are enjoying playing with).