Batteries are an integral part of our lives, storing the power generated by renewable sources to be used whenever it is needed. They have become so ubiquitous that few people realize how much they rely on them for everyday tasks. Batteries store the energy generated by solar panels and wind turbines, allowing us to use it when we need most power during peak hours or after dark. For this reason, battery storage systems are becoming increasingly popular with homeowners who want to take control of their electricity bills.
Although they are becoming more common, there are still many misconceptions about battery storage systems and their work. In this article, we will discuss the different types of the battery storage systems and their benefits.
What Is Battery Energy Storage Systems?
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) is an electrical energy storage used in electric power distribution and transmission. It is either stationary or bulk that is employed for large applications such as utility grids at the transmission level. It can be mobile, which provides load-leveling, uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and black-start capabilities to mobile network operators. BESS uses batteries, ultracapacitors or flywheels as storage media.
BESS is an integral part of the smart grid architecture because it can provide power conversion between alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC), regulate frequency, ease voltage sags or swells that propagate along distribution lines by using fast-acting switches to isolate sections of the grid as well as provide electric power during disruptions to either the primary or secondary distribution grids.
How Does Battery Energy Storage Systems Work?
It can be used on both low voltage and medium voltage distribution networks. The BESS has the same function as that of an uninterruptible power supply or UPS, which provides emergency backup power to electrical equipment in case there’s a disruption in the primary supply.
Solar Batteries Do the Following:
Charge: Batteries store the energy from solar panels during daylight hours.
Discharge: The batteries release the stored energy when there is no solar power available.
Store: Batteries can shift electricity from times of low demand, for example, at night, to periods of high supply during peak hours.
Modulate: The discharge rate is controlled automatically in response to system conditions and network requirements resulting in highly efficient power delivery.
Optimize: The batteries provide support to the grid by either charging or discharging.
Why Do We Need Battery Energy Storage Systems?
Battery Energy Storage Systems are a key part of renewable energy systems that store wind or solar power for use at a later time. This is important because it helps to balance the variable supply from renewables with demand, which can be unpredictable and significantly higher than what these sources may provide alone. In addition, BESSs help utilities manage the risk of blackouts by acting as a backup power supply.
Benefits of Battery Energy Storage Systems:
Reduce Energy Bills: It gives the homeowner or business a chance to store energy during off-peak periods and use it later. This means they can reduce their dependence on traditional power sources, resulting in lower energy costs throughout the year.
Better Use of Renewable Energy: It provides a stable power source for renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. This makes it easier to integrate these technologies onto the grid, which is important because they are intermittent by nature (unpredictable).
Increase Resiliency: Battery Energy Storage Systems can keep critical services online when primary service is outage like natural disasters. For example, hospitals can rely on battery power to keep equipment running during blackouts.
Improved Reliability: Since a BESS serves as the backup power supply, it reduces outage frequency and duration.
Utility Diversification: Battery Energy Storage Systems reduce the utility’s reliance on fossil fuels that are often purchased from volatile markets or have high start-up costs associated with them.
Reduce Carbon Footprint: BESS help reduces the amount of fossil fuel power plants needed for generating electricity. When renewable sources are available, it provides access to that excess energy without relying on traditional grids or generators.
Added Protection: BESSs provide multiple benefits to the community. They can keep critical services online when there is an outage in primary service like natural disasters.
Conclusion
BESS is one of the most important technologies for sustainable energy. They allow us to store electricity produced by renewables like wind and solar, which can then be used at night or when there is no sun. This has significant benefits for both people’s health (less pollution) and countries’ economies (increased production).
It optimizes the battery energy storage system with a new way of charging it. This will make our batteries last longer and use less power when in standby mode. The best thing about this is that we can do all of this without increasing the cost or weight of our current units. It’s great news for people who need long-lasting, lightweight, portable power sources because they don’t have access to an electricity grid.
With the unexpected increase in power usage due to the increased use of electricity-hungry devices, battery energy storage systems are becoming more and more necessary. I hope that this blog post helps you learn something new about the battery energy storage system.
