power grids, as developers seek to store the excess electricity produced by those state’s sprawling wind and solar farms.before 2026, more than two and half times what is currently in operation. In Texas they are expecting 7.9 gigawatts of batteries to be built.
Since the rise of renewables over the past decade, natural gas turbines have shouldered a lot of that load. But as lithium ion battery prices have come down in recent years - at the same time natural gas prices have increased - power utilities are increasingly looking to that technology to fill the gaps.
The boom coincides with increasing concern around the reliability of the U.S. power grid amid changing weather patterns linked to climate change.after a historic winter storm caused power plants and natural gas wells to freeze up. Batteries could theoretically help fill the gap when power plants go down, said Michael Webber, an energy professor at the University of Texas.
Bulk of battery backups only shift power for 1-9 hours, w/ capacity weighted avg of 4.15 hours. No way they replace generators for 3-day TX freeze stretch like Feb 2021. osborneja TheFuelFixer cltomlinson