The golden age of batteries is upon us, at the very least according to Ian Dexter Palmer, writing in Forbes Magazine. This age is the second phase of the energy transition, that began with liquefied natural gas. In those days, batteries were not up up the challenge, but at least the gas trimmed our carbon emissions. Since then, grid scale battery storage has arrived, and is helping us to further decarbonize electricity.
Three Primary Purposes in The Golden Age of Batteries
Grid batteries are serving three primary purposes, as the golden age of batteries rolls out, heralding a better era for all:
- In the first instance, grid batteries store daytime solar energy, so we can use it after sunset.
- But we can also store the energy ‘for a rainy day’ when the sun does not shine at all in daytime.
- And finally, grid batteries support the grid during fluctuations, balancing supply and demand.
That way. we can stop using liquefied natural gas, and take the next tentative step down the road to clean, green, sustainable energy.
When Will Clean Green Energy Be Truly Sustainable?
Sustainability refers to the social ideal, whereby we can continue co-existing on Earth. Many definitions suggest that sustainability has three dimensions, namely social, environmental, and economic.
Clean green energies that are sustainable, do not directly emit greenhouse batteries when they produce electricity. MIT Climate Portal includes hydropower, geothermal, solar, wind, nuclear, bioenergy, and ocean wave power in this definition.
However, these technologies do indirectly cause greenhouse gases during their manufacture, commissioning, decommissioning, and recycling. This means “there’s no such thing as a true, perfectly clean energy source”, according to MIT Climate Portal.
Grid storage batteries are far from being clean, green, and sustainable either. Their life cycle is carbon rich, although they do indirectly contribute to carbon savings. We have a way to go before we can say our electricity is truly sustainable. But as least, we have made a start.
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