Electricity is typically consumed as soon as it’s produced. That means power plants only generate what’s needed to meet the current demand. At peak times, power plants must ramp up their operations and power grid operators need to make sure that enough power is being transmitted.
If there isn’t enough power, blackouts and brownouts can occur. Plus, the on and off generation system is inefficient, costly and puts additional stress on the power grid.
Energy storage can help alleviate this stress. Rechargeable batteries can store electricity at times when demand is low and production is high.
Battery storage is a great option for homes with integrated solar panel systems. Homeowners can generate clean, renewable energy during the day when the sun is high and store it with a battery. Then, they can use that green electricity when they come home at night.
On a larger scale, energy companies can use battery storage systems at their sites to store electricity produced at off-peak times and supply that electricity to customers during periods of high demand.
Energy storage can improve the power grid’s efficiency, potentially lower energy costs for customers and play a key role in the smart power grid of the future.