common technologies for DGPV + Storage
DEFERRAL OF WIRE UPGRADES
A ccording to WoodMac, storage-battery prices have dropped nearly 40% since 2015. In addition, the prices for the two most common key rawmaterials used in batteries—lithium and vanadium—have also significantly dropped in price since 2018. For much of DG PV + storage history, lead-acid batteries (think gasoline-fueled automobile batteries) were the most common storage type when systems were used primarily to power individual homes in off-grid installations. The reason they were used most often is that they were dependable and relatively inexpensive. But lead-acid batteries tend to be both heavy and bulky, which makes them less than ideal for use in today’s commercial- and community- solar applications. They are also less efficient and have limited lifecycles, requiring more frequent replacement when compared to newer energy storage solutions. That’s why the larger trend in solar applications is toward lithium- ion batteries like the ones used
Alleviating loads on the electrical system, which eliminates or delays the need for transmission or distribution system upgrades. RESILIENCE Improving the electrical system’s ability to handle disruptions like severe weather or other outage- causing phenomena. FREQUENCY REGULATION Adjusting energy storage system charging/ discharging in response to ISO/RTO signals received every two to four seconds to balance generation and load on the transmission system.
in laptop computers and most cell phones today. A 2018 study by the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that lithium-ion batteries made up more than 80% of the installed power and energy capacity of large-scale energy storage applications. Unlike lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries are more expensive because of additional equipment, such as advanced battery management systems, that are necessary to monitor voltage and temperature. The additional expense is offset, however, by the fact that they have long lifecycles, high charge and discharge efficiency, are lighter weight and have no maintenance (they are solid state batteries and therefore don’t require electrolyte refills). Although other options may come on the market in the future, lithium- ion batteries, which continue to fall in price as manufacturers ramp up production for electrical vehicles and other large-scale deployment, will be the battery of choice in most DG PV + storage applications.
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