Energy storage is gaining popularity as a way to offer a reliable and constant supply of renewable energy to the grid, despite the fact that it is not a new technology.
Fremont, CA: Energy storage systems collect excess energy during periods of high production and low demand and store it for use during periods of low production and high demand. The battery energy storage system, or BESS, is the energy storage system that solar PV companies are most interested in. While approximately 2–3 percent of energy storage systems in the United States use BESS, there is a growing trend to combine BESS and renewables.
Energy storage systems collect excess energy during periods of high production and low demand and store it for use during periods of low production and high demand. The battery energy storage system, or BESS, is the energy storage system that solar PV companies are most interested in. While approximately 2–3 percent of energy storage systems in the United States use BESS, there is a growing trend to combine BESS and renewables.
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Why are BESS systems gaining traction?
For both technological and commercial reasons, BESS systems are gaining traction. The employment of BESS in assisting the world's shift to renewable energy is particularly interesting. Renewable energy sources are intermittent in nature, meaning that production increases when the sun shines, and the wind blows but decreases when the day is overcast, or the winds die down. On-demand gas power is still required to fill up the gaps in the current system. Energy storage technologies, such as BESS can assist in maintaining a constant, steady supply of energy as additional renewables come online and begin contributing to the grid in order to reach ambitious clean energy objectives.
Another factor driving the adoption of BESS systems is the low cost of lithium-ion batteries. The cost of this technology is decreasing and is predicted to continue to decrease. This is pushing people away from traditional energy storage solutions and toward BESS.
Importance of siting of BESS
The location of any power generation resource is critical, but BESS systems are extremely versatile and may be deployed and used in a variety of ways. Behind-the-meter applications are available for residential, commercial, and industrial use. Consumers with rooftop solar panels can use a BESS to store surplus energy and use it as a backup power source. The California Solar & Storage Association (CALSSA) predicts 2–2.5 GW of behind-the-meter battery deployments by the end of 2025.