Grid Batteries Won Big This Summer

‍Fifth Wall Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/fifthwall/the-value-of-grid-batteries-for-cities 

Why the grid matters: Clean, renewable energy is essential for decarbonizing buildings. What's also necessary is a way to store that energy. That's where batteries come in.

• Nearly a decade ago California mandated that utilities start installing grid batteries. Now, batteries make up 7.6% of capacity for the power system in California.

Grid batteries are trending up: More new grid-storage capacity was built in the second quarter of 2023 than in any previous quarter, according to a new report. It's an accelerated return after Covid-related supply-chain constraints in the previous quarters.

• The majority of those new installations took place in California and Texas. And the tech is credited with preventing blackouts during record-setting heatwaves in those states. (Texas also set 10 different records for electricity demands this summer, Canary Media writes).

Reality check: Ideally, batteries would be able to store an abundance of energy from solar and return it back to the grid. But right now, the biggest value batteries bring is the ability to be a quick powerhouse of energy in the midst of grid outages due to extreme weather or high demands, Canary Media reports.

What's more: While an old EV battery might not be much use for another vehicle, it might work for the grid. Researchers are experimenting with new tech that gives EV batteries a second life as an energy storage system.