Energy storage growth hits record highs, despite obstacles

[Think. Again.]

By Dan Gearino, September 28, 2023
Full Article: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/28092023/inside-clean-energy-battery-storage-growth-record/

The United States added a record amount of energy storage in the second quarter.

-snip-

Energy storage developers completed 1,680 megawatts of projects in the second quarter, the highest ever for a single quarter, and an increase of 21 percent from the second quarter last year, according to a report issued this week by Wood Mackenzie, a research firm, and the American Clean Power Association, a trade group: https://cleanpower.org/news/new-report-u-s-grid-scale-energy-storage-installations-set-new-record-in-q2-2023/

But there were an additional 2,000 megawatts of projects that developers have pushed into later quarters and years, the report said.

The projects are running late for many reasons, including difficulty obtaining parts, long waits to get approvals to connect to the grid and the need to revise financing because of rising costs.

-snip-

Energy storage is a vital part of the transition to clean energy because it works well with intermittent resources like wind and solar power, storing electricity for use during times of high demand. To make a successful transition, the grid is going to need vast amounts of energy storage, which can include batteries and other technologies like pumped storage using hydroelectric dams.

-snip-

[LiberaBlueDem]

1. So much electricity is wasted

Batteries will save that wasted electricity.

That is why big power plants are first in line at putting big batteries online. Nuclear plants for instance, run 24/7, but at night half as much electricity is needed by users, so the production is wasted.

Gas plants can be fired up and stopped within minutes so waste is at a minimum. Besides most gas is wasted due to escape from wells and refineries, so making use of that to make electricity for users is beneficial.

Now, I am all for all solar and wish we didn't use gas, or coal nor nuclear, or plastic coal to make electricity. But as long as people need all their gadgets and they pay their high bills, it will be provided 24/7.