The Most Obvious Energy Storage Benefit: Reliable Power
In our discussion of energy storage, frequent commenter Gary Tulie writes from the UK:
You forget the added value of storage where an uninterrupted power supply is needed anyway! How about installing energy storage at hospitals, data centres, military facilities and such like where some storage is needed anyway? That way, you just add extra energy giving a longer time off grid permitting peak shaving.
D’oh! Of course, you’re right. That’s kind of like listing the Founding Fathers of the United States and forgetting George Washington.
I’m reminded of my trip to visit the (currently) 2 megawatt solar photovoltaics facility at Fort Hunter Liggett in Central California, now the largest solar array on a military base in the U.S. It’s soon to be a micro-grid, as they plan to install several megawatt-hours of battery storage.
Out there in the middle of nowhere (rural Monterey County, Central California), they experience several power outages (sometimes five or six) per year. No more!
For mobile devices and for transportation, lighter battery materials are now preferred to lead. That leaves lead to be recycled for use in places such as hospitals, where they may have room and may not need to move batteries to have the evening out of use that they need. In addition, in some parts of their operations, they still use x-ray machines and they may need lead for shielding anyway. The advantages and long-storage, light batteries are fueling research in that direction. We need to give thought to how to de-commission older technologies without compromising environmental conditions