All You Should Know About Battery Energy Storage Systems
CONTENTS
Energy powers the world, literally. Energy is also invisible, yet it's all around us in different forms. It can never be made or destroyed, but its form can be converted and changed.
Despite being so essential, energy is also relatively limited, especially as natural resources become scarcer and more expensive. Energy demand is only expected to rise as the world becomes more populous, urbanized, and prosperous. However, the Earth has a finite amount of natural resources that can be used to satisfy this demand.
In particular, the energy demand of the global population is expected to grow 50% by 2030 (National Intelligence Council). Higher energy demand results in more stress to an already fragile planet, which in turn ends up contributing to a rise in temperature and more extreme weather conditions.
Energy storage is one of the solutions which can help increase energy efficiency and reduce energy waste. Below you will find more detailed information on energy storage and how MORNSUN’s solutions can support the power requirements of your energy storage system.
The Current State of Energy Sources
According to the International Energy Agency, the share of non-renewable energy sources still accounts for 71% of the global electricity generation in 2020. Renewable energy use increased 3% in 2020 as demand for all other fuels declined. However, the journey is still long, as the world's energy usage still relies mostly on non-renewable sources.
Besides generating a heavier impact on the environment, non-renewable energy is collected from sources that eventually will be depleted, such as oil, natural gases, and coal. As the name suggests, renewable energy comes from natural sources or processes that are constantly replenished. Renewable resources don't need to burn any fuel to produce electricity and therefore don't emit the greenhouse gases that cause climate change.
Why is Energy Storage Important?
Renewable electricity generation in 2021 is set to expand by more than 8%, the fastest year-on-year growth since the 1970s. However, renewable energy systems are heavily affected by environmental and weather conditions. In a time when climate conditions are more unpredictable than ever, this aspect can cause inconsistent energy supply, especially in neighborhoods where energy demand is relatively high.
Imagine, for example, a photovoltaic panel for harnessing energy from the sun during winter or a wind turbine that needs to be shut off during a particularly windy day. These scenarios are far from uncommon, and that is why energy storage is increasingly important.
Energy storage technology helps to store electrical energy so it can be available to meet demand whenever needed. For renewable energy resources, for example, the amount of electricity that can be generated is relatively fixed over short periods. However, electricity demand often fluctuates throughout the day.
Electricity storage devices can manage the amount of power required to supply customers when the need is greatest, which is during peak load. These devices can also help make renewable energy distribution smoother and more dispatchable, especially considering that grid operators often can't control renewable power output.
The Major Benefits of a Battery Energy Storage System (ESS)
An energy storage system is complex electronic equipment that has the capacity to capture electricity when it is readily available - typically from a renewable energy system - and store it for later use. The most common energy storage options can be divided into four main categories: electrochemical, mechanical, thermal, and chemical storage.
Among all the options available, battery energy storage is by far the most common and most widely accessible form of storage. In particular, lithium-ion batteries control more than 90% of the current global grid battery storage market and represent the most popular battery storage option. Lithium-ion batteries also have higher energy density and are more lightweight than other battery options.
Many are the benefits of employing a battery energy storage system (BESS), and here are listed the most crucial ones:
Reduced costs: battery energy storage systems can help save operational costs in powering the grid, especially those related to providing frequency regulation and spinning reserve services. Electricity consumers who install BESS in their homes and businesses can also save money by storing low-cost energy and using it later, during peak periods at higher electricity rates;
More reliable energy supply: a BESS can provide backup power during disruptions, including brief outages or extreme weather conditions. For electrical grids, a battery energy storage system provides higher flexibility and ensures uninterrupted power to consumers, whenever and wherever they need it. The increased reliability and resilience that result from using an energy storage system also translates into less costly disruptions and a lower impact on normal grid operations.
More flexible energy supply: wind and solar energy can be variable or intermittent based on a spectrum of environmental and weather factors. A battery energy storage system stores excess energy when the wind is blowing, and the sun is shining. It then injects or extracts electricity as needed to exactly match load and shifts in energy demand, wherever and whenever it's needed.
Reduced environmental impact: battery energy storage systems enable electricity to be saved for later, when and where it's most needed. This results in increased efficiencies that can support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. On the one hand, a BESS helps integrate more solar, wind, and other renewable energy resources by introducing more flexibility into the grid. On the other hand, battery energy systems also offset the need for building new pollution-emitting peak power plants.
Energy Storage Project Types
Battery energy storage systems can be used in various applications within the residential, commercial and industrial segments.
Residential applications: residential BESS makes green energy available 24/7 in association with the photovoltaic system. Considering that electricity is becoming more expensive in many countries, a BESS helps to store daytime energy from a photovoltaic system and makes it available at any time. A residential BESS minimizes electricity purchases from the grid, especially during on-peak hours. Consumers can benefit from a residential BESS by increasing energy self-consumption at home and reducing overall electricity charges. Not to mention that certain rural areas where the power grid hardly covers demand are not fully able to provide stable and cheap electricity from PV systems without the help of a BESS. Residential battery energy storage systems can also be used as an emergency power source if and when an unexpected interruption occurs.
Commercial and industrial applications: commercial and industrial BESS can secure grid stability in the generation, transmission, and distribution of power supply. Grid owners can also use BESS to enhance power quality by frequency regulation. Another benefit of using BESS in commercial and industrial applications related to a more mitigated and more stable production of renewable energy - including solar and wind power - even in the case of short-term intermittency and an imbalance between supply/demand.
How MORNSUN Can Help
Battery energy storage systems are becoming increasingly crucial for speeding up the replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy. "Efficiency" and "reliability" are some of the keywords most associated with battery storage technologies.
Battery storage systems play a pivotal role between green energy supplies and responding to electricity demands. Compared to other generation systems, battery storage systems also take up little space for the amount of power they release.
However, consumers and business owners sometimes rely on BESS to provide continuous electricity, even during emergencies. For this reason, the circuitry of battery energy storage systems needs to be designed to ensure efficient, reliable, and economical power supply.
MORNSUN has contributed to creating a more environmental-friendly and efficient world with its efficient power supplies. Our BESS solutions can benefit homeowners, business owners, and entire communities by providing a reliable and efficient power supply.
Our BESS power solutions can be applied to both residential and commercial scenarios. In particular, we invite all ESS developers to read more about our ultra-high, ultra-wide voltage input DC/DC PV converters, AC/DC converters, DC/DC converters for IGBT/SiC drivers, and CAN/RS485 transceivers.
Contact us at any time to request a sample or talk directly with one of our energy storage experts today.
