THE use of energy storage in various forms has
been around most of our human existence in one form or another. An example
dates back to the 1300s where stored or dammed waterways controlled watermills
for use in grain processing and farm irrigation. Energy storage gives us
control over the supply and demand of energy. In the next two years, battery
storage systems will become mainstream and change the renewable energy industry
forever.
Japan, Germany, the United States and China have been investing millions of dollars into battery storage over the last three years and it seems that it will be finally paying off. In the past, the problem with this technology has been the low energy density, its availability and the high costs. The density of storage is the relation of the amount of energy stored in a given unit, the higher the energy density the more energy you can store.
Now is the time to get excited because battery storage will not only be affordable but will make sense to add this technology to renewable energy systems that will help save you a lot money in the years to come.
Solar and wind farms naturally have additional challenges such as cloud cover and changing weather conditions. When these systems are connected to the grid, these uncontrollable conditions cause fluctuations of energy. When a battery storage system is added, these systems deliver reliable and efficient energy to the grid with minimal voltage fluctuations. Batteries that use Ni-Cd (Nickle-Cadium), Ni-MH (nickel-metal hydrate), and Li-ion (Lithium-ion) deliver a high performance, long service life and low to zero maintenance. Even in extreme conditions, these batteries stand the abuse. This value proposition is designed to optimize energy efficiency, enable more flexible grid management, maximize investments and provide peace of mind knowing energy balance is under control across the entire energy supply chain.
In the commercial and residential markets, solar companies are partnering with energy storage companies and creating hybrid systems. These systems can store your excess energy produced during the day and delivering this energy to your electrical system once the sun goes down. This new technology is being produced with logic controls in which the owner can preset and program when to dispatch the stored energy and under what conditions. When commercial and residential storage become more common it will eliminate the heated debate about net metering. Net metering gives power customers who generate renewable power the opportunity to give their excess power to the power company in exchange for reduced power bills. Battery storage will give customers the opportunity to store their excess renewable energy for later in the day when needed and not adding it to the grid once it is created.
Continued research and development from the pioneers of energy storage and the decrease in prices will upgrade the renewable energy industry. I believe battery storage is the missing link needed to complete our need for energy independence from fossil fuel. This new and exciting technology will soon be mainstream and it could not come at a better time.
Japan, Germany, the United States and China have been investing millions of dollars into battery storage over the last three years and it seems that it will be finally paying off. In the past, the problem with this technology has been the low energy density, its availability and the high costs. The density of storage is the relation of the amount of energy stored in a given unit, the higher the energy density the more energy you can store.
Now is the time to get excited because battery storage will not only be affordable but will make sense to add this technology to renewable energy systems that will help save you a lot money in the years to come.
Solar and wind farms naturally have additional challenges such as cloud cover and changing weather conditions. When these systems are connected to the grid, these uncontrollable conditions cause fluctuations of energy. When a battery storage system is added, these systems deliver reliable and efficient energy to the grid with minimal voltage fluctuations. Batteries that use Ni-Cd (Nickle-Cadium), Ni-MH (nickel-metal hydrate), and Li-ion (Lithium-ion) deliver a high performance, long service life and low to zero maintenance. Even in extreme conditions, these batteries stand the abuse. This value proposition is designed to optimize energy efficiency, enable more flexible grid management, maximize investments and provide peace of mind knowing energy balance is under control across the entire energy supply chain.
In the commercial and residential markets, solar companies are partnering with energy storage companies and creating hybrid systems. These systems can store your excess energy produced during the day and delivering this energy to your electrical system once the sun goes down. This new technology is being produced with logic controls in which the owner can preset and program when to dispatch the stored energy and under what conditions. When commercial and residential storage become more common it will eliminate the heated debate about net metering. Net metering gives power customers who generate renewable power the opportunity to give their excess power to the power company in exchange for reduced power bills. Battery storage will give customers the opportunity to store their excess renewable energy for later in the day when needed and not adding it to the grid once it is created.
Continued research and development from the pioneers of energy storage and the decrease in prices will upgrade the renewable energy industry. I believe battery storage is the missing link needed to complete our need for energy independence from fossil fuel. This new and exciting technology will soon be mainstream and it could not come at a better time.
Tracy Voacolo is the president of Micronesia Renewable
Energy. She has more than 20 years of experience in the renewable energy
industry. Tracy can be contacted at info[at]micronesiarenewableenergy.com.
For more information about Micronesia Renewable Energy, visit http://micronesiarenewableenergy.com/.