5 ms·

Strange. I would honestly have thought that the losses involved in storing energy in a battery (I would expect at least 20% loss) would have out-shadowed the sa

Strange. I would honestly have thought that the losses involved in storing energy in a battery (I would expect at least 20% loss) would have out-shadowed the savings by avoiding extra charges for high demand. It's surprising to me that batteries were chosen as the energy storage method and also that the energy provider themselves is not doing this on a large scale if it's a big issue to them. A very interesting read.

greenyoda 13y ago
Also, there would be a loss when converting the batteries' DC back to AC to drive the hotel's air conditioning and other systems. And doesn't charging a battery generate heat, which you would need additional air conditioning to remove on a hot day? I wonder whether it would be environmentally sustainable if every home or business in the world started using batteries for power storage and electric vehicles. For example, how much environmental damage would be incurred from mining lithium on a massive scale? Are there even enough known lithium deposits in the world to make this practical on a large scale?
- sjtgraham 13y ago
  > And doesn't charging a battery generate heat, which you would need additional air conditioning to remove on a hot day? Hot days are peak demand meaning batteries are discharging > Are there even enough known lithium deposits in the world to make this practical on a large scale? I don't know but given almost every rechargeable is Li, I'd say indicatively, yes.
- toomuchtodo 13y ago
  You can mine lithium out of the ocean cost-effectively. By the time is becomes scarce, we will have moved on to a new technology.
- mikro2nd 13y ago
  iirc inverters converting DC to AC are pretty efficient - 92-95% is common, 97% is quite do-able.
drinkzima 13y ago
People don't fully appreciate how long the tails get on power pricing when alternate sources have to come online. Not uncommon to see 10x base pricing a few times per year: http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=9510 http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=9510
crdoconnor 13y ago
This just goes to show how much the electric utilities are profiteering (more than the 20%).

greenyoda 13y ago

Also, there would be a loss when converting the batteries' DC back to AC to drive the hotel's air conditioning and other systems. And doesn't charging a battery generate heat, which you would need additional air conditioning to remove on a hot day? I wonder whether it would be environmentally sustainable if every home or business in the world started using batteries for power storage and electric vehicles. For example, how much environmental damage would be incurred from mining lithium on a massive scale? Are there even enough known lithium deposits in the world to make this practical on a large scale?

sjtgraham 13y ago
> And doesn't charging a battery generate heat, which you would need additional air conditioning to remove on a hot day? Hot days are peak demand meaning batteries are discharging > Are there even enough known lithium deposits in the world to make this practical on a large scale? I don't know but given almost every rechargeable is Li, I'd say indicatively, yes.
toomuchtodo 13y ago
You can mine lithium out of the ocean cost-effectively. By the time is becomes scarce, we will have moved on to a new technology.
mikro2nd 13y ago
iirc inverters converting DC to AC are pretty efficient - 92-95% is common, 97% is quite do-able.

drinkzima 13y ago

People don't fully appreciate how long the tails get on power pricing when alternate sources have to come online. Not uncommon to see 10x base pricing a few times per year: http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=9510 http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=9510

crdoconnor 13y ago

This just goes to show how much the electric utilities are profiteering (more than the 20%).