Battery energy storage system has become the mainstream of energy storage

The battery has been used for more than 100 years since its invention, and solar power technology has also been used for more than 50 years. In the early stage of the development of the solar energy industry, solar power generation facilities are usually deployed far away from the grid, mainly to supply power to remote facilities and homes. As technology progresses and time goes by, solar power generation facilities connect directly to the grid. Nowadays, more and more solar power generation facilities are deployed with battery energy storage systems.

As governments and companies provide incentives to reduce the cost of solar power generation facilities, more and more users deploy solar power generation facilities to save electricity costs. Nowadays, solar energy + energy storage system has become an essential part of the booming solar energy industry, and their deployment is accelerating.

Since the intermittent power supply of solar power will adversely affect the operation of the power grid, the state of Hawaii does not allow newly-built solar power generation facilities to send their excess energy to the power grid indiscriminately. The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission began restricting the deployment of solar power generation facilities directly connected to the grid in October 2015. The commission became the first regulatory agency in the United States to adopt restrictive measures. Many customers operating solar power facilities in Hawaii have deployed battery energy storage systems to ensure that they store excess electricity and use it during peak demand instead of sending it directly to the grid. Therefore, the relationship between solar power generation facilities and battery energy storage systems is now closer.

Since then, electricity rates in some states in the United States have become more complicated, partly to prevent the output of solar power facilities from being exported to the grid at inappropriate times. The industry encourages most solar customers to deploy battery energy storage systems. Although the additional cost of deploying battery energy storage systems will make the financial return of solar power generation facilities lower than the model of direct connection to the grid, battery energy storage systems provide additional flexibility and control capabilities for the grid, which is increasingly essential for businesses and residential users. Important. The signs of these industries are apparent: energy storage systems will become an integral part of most solar power generation facilities in the future.

1. Providers of solar power generation facilities provide supporting battery products

For a long time, energy storage system providers have been behind the development of solar + energy storage projects. Some large-scale solar power installations (such as Sunrun, SunPower,HOPPT BATTERY and Tesla) have begun to provide their customers with their products in the past few years. Battery products.

With the significant increase in the market share of solar + energy storage projects, these companies said that supporting lithium-ion battery energy storage systems with good performance and long working life will be more attractive to users.

When significant developers in the solar power generation field step into battery production, the marketing, information transmission, and industry influence of these companies will increase the awareness of consumers, companies, and governments. Their smaller competitors are also taking action to ensure that they do not fall behind.

2. Provide incentives for utility companies and policymakers

Since the California utility company raised the industry-famous "duck curve" problem, the high penetration rate of solar power generation has increasingly affected the power grid, and battery energy storage systems have become a potential solution to the "duck curve" problem. Solution. But until some industry experts compared the cost of building a natural gas peak shaving power plant in Oxnard, California, with the cost of deploying battery energy storage systems, did the utility companies and regulators realize that battery energy storage systems are It is cost-effective to offset the intermittency of renewable energy. Today, many states and local governments in the United States encourage the deployment of grid-side and user-side battery energy storage systems through measures such as California's Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) and New York State's Large-Capacity Energy Storage Incentive Program.

These incentives have a direct or indirect impact on the demand for energy storage deployment. Just as It can trace government incentives for energy technology back to the Industrial Revolution, this means that companies and consumers should actively accept this technology.

3. Issue safety standards for battery energy storage systems

One of the most critical signs that battery energy storage systems have become mainstream energy storage technologies is to include them in the latest regulations and standards. The building and electrical codes released by the United States in 2018 included battery energy storage systems, but the UL 9540 safety test standard has not yet been formed.

After It released fruitful communication and exchanges between industry manufacturers and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the leading setter of US safety regulations, the NFPA 855 standard specification at the end of 2019, the newly released electrical codes in the United States have been harmonized with NFPA 855, providing regulatory agencies and building departments with the same level of guidance as HVAC and water heaters.

In addition to ensuring safe deployment, these standardized requirements also help construction departments and supervisors implement safety requirements, making it easier to deal with battery and related equipment safety issues. As supervisors develop routine procedures that allow battery energy storage systems to be installed, the risks associated with these critical steps will be reduced, thereby shortening project deployment time, reducing costs, and improving customer experience. As with previous standards, this will continue to promote the development of solar + energy storage.

Future development of battery energy storage system

Today, more and more enterprises and residential users can use battery energy storage systems to provide essential services to maintain the stability of the power grid. Utility companies will continue to advance more and more complex rate structures to more accurately reflect their costs and the environmental impact of the power supply. As climate change leads to extreme weather and power outages, the value, and importance of battery energy storage systems will increase significantly.