They’re mostly not set up as a backup system, but to time-shift wind and solar so that it isnt necessary to use more expensive fossil fuel generation. For example, here is what utility-scale battery use looked like on Dec 5 in California
Comment on Once a Gamble in the Desert, Electric Grid Batteries Are Everywhere
rhythmisaprancer@piefed.social 1 week ago
In the last few years, one of these has gone up adjacent to a new solar installation somewhat close to my area. I wish I heard more about them (especially this one I have seen) but I mostly hear about hydropower since that is the primary source we have. I live really far away from any power source and our local power coop has discussed possibly putting one closer to town but nothing has come of it. I think it could be great but am not sure how these things work in a supplementary capacity. Last year our grocer lost many products due to a fire two hours away causing a lengthy power interruption. I think these things could be great for local power but my view is from a rural western US standpoint and probably won’t apply to many places.
silence7@slrpnk.net 1 week ago
rainwall@piefed.social 1 week ago
Batteries are effectivly another “power plant” on the grid. They have different charectoristics than hydro/nat gas/coal/etc, but most of them are postive, like being able go kick on immedialty, versus some lag time with the others as power demand moves around.
They are a great natural compliment to solar/wind, as they collect excess power for use when these sources lag, smoothing the curve out for the two cheaoest sources of power. They thenselves are also cheap and getting cheaper.
If youre our in a rural area, you may be able to do a microgrid based on agrivoltaics, i.e farming/ranching in harmony with solar panels. Turns out lots of crops like the shade and increases moisture that solar panels provide, especially grasses/clover that sheep or cattle can graze while the farm makes passive income from the sun.
rhythmisaprancer@piefed.social 1 week ago
That is essentially what our power coop has proposed. I think they are talking about solar only, but it hasn’t been popular with the ranchers 🙁️ It was just this year, so I think it will gain traction over time. This climate is complicated with regard to the shade from panels but the studies about solar panels in ranch land are good and I think it will happen, we just need more town folks to show up to the meetings. The grocer incident will be, I think, a game changer. The ranchers depend on that store also.
rainwall@piefed.social 1 week ago
Thats great to here. From what ive read sheep are easy to graze under most panels. For cattle, the panels will likely need to be 10+ feet up, as they are so large. This is more expensive, but is doable.
rhythmisaprancer@piefed.social 1 week ago
These are the studies I have read, but cattle are what exist right outside of town. We have a lot of sheep, too, but not where the panels would go. I would like to find a study about cattle, if you have one to share, that would be great!