Power utilities balance their grids by increasing or decreasing supply, and managing demand. They achieve the latter by offering off-peak incentives, and in rare cases shedding customers. Battery energy storage systems are a novel way to bolster the supply side. Now, a battery swap station in Taiwan is helping balance the grid from their side too.
Battery Swap Stations Are Big Business in Taiwan
Battery exchanging is big business in Taiwan. One such service has 590 outlets serving two-wheeled electric bikes, mopeds and scooters according to MIT Technology Review. These are user driven, automated services at convenient locations in cities.
When a 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan on April 3, 2024, this tripped several generating units curtailing electricity supply. The 590 exchange stations for batteries sensed a drop in the power frequency. This triggered an auto response that helped the struggling grid remain online.
The 590 battery swap stations, which had been charging their battery stock, immediately disconnected from the grid. Their action reduced demand by six-megawatts equivalent to thousands of homes. The grid remained online, and recovered fully after ten minutes.
We find this an interesting example of grid-customer cooperation. In an inverse way, it was as if the battery exchange network switched on six-megawatts of battery storage. Everybody wins when we work together, especially when the topic is as critical as electricity supply.
What a Beautiful Way to Help the Community
“What is beautiful is that the stations’ economic interest is aligned with the grid,” says an industry expert. “They have the incentive to time their charges during the low utilization period, paying the low electricity price, while feeding electricity back to the grid during peak period, enjoying a higher price.”
More Information
Balancing the Utility Grid With Stored Energy
