battery-stored electricity could reduce power use and save money, report says - battery energy
According to a report released Thursday by the Rocky Mountain Institute, if these companies take advantage of unused power stored in existing home and commercial batteries, utilities will save consumers money and help support the grid.
The report, called "economics of battery energy storage", was written by nonpartisan nonprofit organizations in Snowmass, Colorado.
, States that most of the batteries that have been used are only used as backup power when other power is not available.
Instead, electricity in the battery can help reduce congestion on over-powered lines, as utilities send electricity from different factories when demand is strong. The battery-
The stored power can also provide immediate support to the grid in case of emergency.
For customers, the battery can help them manage the electricity better and reduce the cost.
Consumers can take advantage of the stored power when the electricity bill is high, rather than buying it from the grid, thus reducing the electricity bill other than the use of solar panels alone.
"We have assets that can bring value to the grid.
They just sit there, "said Jesse Morris, one of the authors of the report.
In particular, California is already looking to use more energy storage while increasingly using renewable energy sources such as solar and wind to help reduce pollution
Said author Garett fitzgerrard.
The state regulator's mandate is primarily for utilities, but Morris and Fitzgerald say the existing storage of homes and businesses creates another opportunity for states, utilities and consumers.
"The value of the battery is not high," said Fitzgerald . "
If regulators and utilities do not consider the benefits of using storage systems in homes and businesses, "customers may just be out of the grid," Morris said . ".
The decline in battery technology costs, combined with the proliferation of rooftop solar systems, could lead to more consumers cutting wires, as many have done on cable television, Morris said.
"They can really go by themselves," Morris said . ".
"We don't think it's the best choice.
We do not want those who are capable to defect from the grid.