What is battery storage solutions, and why are they so important? Standby power, also known as backup or emergency power, is a battery storage solutions that provides backup electricity in the event of a power outage. For businesses, having standby power can mean the difference between shutting down operations and continuing to run smoothly. For homeowners, standby power can mean the difference between being without lights and having the ability to cook dinner or work from home. We will explore the importance of battery storage solutions and how renewable technology, such as that solar power, can be a driving force. 

Battery storage also referred to as battery storage solutions (BESS), are devices that store energy for a later time. There are many different energy storage systems, but all share the same basic principle: converting energy from one form to another and storing it until it is needed. The most common type of energy storage system is a battery. Batteries store energy through chemical reactions, releasing generated electricity when required. Other energy storage systems include flywheels, compressed air, and pumped hydroelectricity. For example, hydro plants can pump reservoirs full of water, which are released through a turbine to generate electricity (National Grid).

Battery storage systems have several advantages over other types of energy storage. They are relatively small and compact, making them easy to install and transport. Battery energy storage systems are becoming increasingly popular as the cost of batteries continues to fall. As the need for reliable backup power increases, this is made even more so with the rise in renewable technologies in recent years (Carbon Trust).

Energy is the ability to do work. It comes from various sources, including the sun, fossil fuels, nuclear reactions, and hydroelectric dams. There are two types of energy: potential and kinetic. Potential energy is stored energy that has the potential to be released, while kinetic energy is energy in motion. These storage systems take advantage of the former. A battery stores chemical energy from electrons that can be released when needed.  Batteries come in various shapes and sizes, from the small batteries in watches to huge industrial batteries used to power electric vehicles. 

So how does this work with solar farms? Well, battery storage systems can be located near a solar farm when an electrical substation is nearby. The solar panels harness the suns energy before it is transferred to the battery storage system. Intelligent battery software helps coordinate energy production, and computerized systems control the use of batteries. Battery storage systems release energy during peak demand, helping reduce costs and preventing blackouts. These systems are generally built in tandem with large scale solar farm installations

 Utility companies worldwide, such as National Grid, are taking steps to align supply with demand. It’s a challenge to achieve net-zero carbon production and phase out fossil fuel plants that traditionally have provided a dependable, steady supply of energy. 

The UK government estimates that renewable technology like battery storage systems – which can support the integration of more low-carbon power, heating, and transport technologies – could save the UK energy system an estimated £40 billion (£48 billion) by 2050. In a world increasingly driven by renewable energy, the ability to store energy from renewables is becoming more and more critical. There are many benefits to keeping energy from renewable sources, including: 

1. Increased grid stability – When wind and solar power are intermittent, battery storage solutions can provide the consistent, reliable energy needed to maintain grid stability.
2. Improved economics of renewables – Battery storage solutions can help smooth out the variability of renewables, making them more economically viable.
3. Enhanced use of renewable resources – When batteries store excess renewable energy, they can dispatch this energy when demand is high.
4. Increased resilience – battery storage solutions can provide backup power in case of grid outages or other disruptions.
5. Localised energy security – By storing energy locally, communities can become less reliant on centralized power plants and the electric grid.

Lastly, storing renewable energy can provide insurance against future disruptions in the energy system. For example, if there were to be a sudden shutdown of a nuclear power plant, stored solar power from battery storage could be used to fill the gap in a generation. If this were to be the case, Renewable technology such as that to harness solar power would be a significant player.