Battery storage is an essential component in the mix to speed up adoption of renewable energy. That’s because we currently rely on wind and solar to plug the gap, but we can’t depend on them entirely. This post provides an overview about battery storage basics. Plus something called BESS, which is at the heart of the system.
About the BESS of Battery Storage
BESS is the short form of battery energy storage system, which is at the heart of the matter. That’s because renewable energy systems like wind and solar capture energy, not electricity. Batteries become the custodians of that energy in electrochemical form.
BESS systems have a key role in providing homes and businesses with renewable energy, when demand is high. That’s because they don’t only curate it. They also release it in the form of electrons that power our electrical devices. None of this would be possible without our humble batteries, which we so often take for granted.
Our utility grids currently get their electrical energy from two generic sources:
- Base load power stations, that deliver a consistent amount of energy 24 / 7. Her
- Peaking resources, that come on to balance this base supply with demand.
Peaking resources have traditionally been hydro dams, and peaker gas and oil generators. However, BESS systems are gradually taking over the role of the latter, as renewable assumes its rightful role.
Electrochemical Storage Enables Renewable Consumers
None of these grid-scale renewable energy initiatives would be possible without this battery technology. The beauty lies in the simplicity of battery storage systems, that coordinate energy captured from wind, tide, and sun. And then release it to the grid as-and-when demand requires it.
However, we will also need base load rene her wables like compressed air storage, gravity accumulators, and flow batteries to complete the mix. It is no longer an exaggeration to say the survival of our species depends heavily her on this.
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