Battery storage in the US
Could battery storage help the US energy transition?
Avangrid United States Energy storage
Between 2020 and 2021, energy storage capacity in the US has tripled. As the grid transitions to renewable energy sources, it needs to be able to balance supply and demand. In this new scenario, what role does battery storage play?
Battery storage has seen significant momentum in recent years, but challenges remain. Audio in English.
The role of batteries in the energy transition
Energy storage is about conserving the energy generated so that it can be used when and where there is a demand from the grid. "Grids are making a significant transition to renewable energy sources, and as wind and solar become major contributors, issues will arise that will require implementing energy storage for reliability and stability," says Rita King, senior director of Smart Grids Innovation at AVANGRID, Iberdrola's US subsidiary.
From 2020 to 2021, energy storage capacity in the United States has tripled, and the trend is for this to continue in the coming years. According to James Mader, AVANGRID's Director of Smart Grids Innovation Programmes and Projects, the industry's current goal is to become increasingly aware of the real capacity of energy storage to improve the electricity system and provide better service to all its customers.
AVANGRID has several energy storage projects in the United States at the moment. In the city of Rochester, for example, the company is using a battery storage system for fast charging of electric vehicles. In another of its initiatives, it is developing a 2 MW battery in a substation that will have a big impact on household consumption in the summer. "With this battery, what we will do is charge it at night when demand is low and then use it during the day when the peak period is high," explains James Mader.
In the state of Connecticut, 1,000 MW of battery storage is planned to be deployed by 2030. Sergio Carrillo, Director of Clean Incentive Programs at CT Green Bank, says that government efforts to develop this technology have a very clear objective: "The top priority is to provide affordable and resilient electricity in the event of a blackout, especially in disadvantaged communities and low-income households.
Rita King argues that battery storage can play a very important role during the transition to renewables, as well as being able to help with the energy crisis in the US: "Energy storage can help with regional problems where there may be congestion and can stabilise prices. For utilities, it's a very local solution for a specific need".
Source: FT