Why are battery storage systems useful?

BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems) consist of groups of batteries connected both to a power generation plant and to the distribution or transmission grid. They are, in essence, "reservoirs" in which electricity is stored when it is produced and then fed into the grid at another time.

With which electric generation technologies do storage systems best integrate?

BESS prove particularly useful in conjunction with renewable energy systems, such as photovoltaic or wind power, which have peak generation times that are not necessarily synchronized with the users' needs. With these devices, it is therefore possible to store surplus electricity and then allow it to be used or fed into the grid when needed. They can be used in small-scale, residential, so-called "behind the meter" solutions, for example in conjunction with domestic renewable systems, or in large-scale solutions that are directly connected to the distribution or transmission grid.

When and how is the electricity stored in BESS used?

Hybrid plant projects in which generation from renewables is placed alongside BESS are growing rapidly. For example, EGP, in North America alone, and in Texas in particular, has a 1.5 billion investment plan by 2024 to reach 2.2 GW of capacity. These plants require special skills for design, installation, and maintenance and thus fuel a demand for skilled labor that will continue to grow in the years to come.

Can storage systems help create new jobs?

In the various projects involving BESS, EGP has found how this technology can be particularly useful in the development of rural areas, where most wind farms and photovoltaic plants are located. Landowners, farmers, ranchers and local communities can benefit from the revenue generated by these installations through increased tax revenues and the sale or lease of land. For local governments, this means greater availability of funds for utility works and services to residents. For landowners and farmers, it is a way to differentiate their business and stabilize their earnings even at times when the market for agricultural products fluctuates.

Do storage systems help rural economies?

In general, BESS are also useful for communities because of a whole range of indirect benefits they generate. They are in fact environmentally sustainable, producing no pollutant emissions, not requiring the construction of large infrastructures and having minimal environmental impact. They enable local reliance on traditional fossil fuels to be reduced, and they also make the power grid more efficient and stable, protecting it from malfunctions or blackouts.

Are storage systems useful for communities?

BESS are one of the most efficient technologies in the electricity production chain. Indeed, they make it possible to avoid waste and make full use of the potential of renewable sources and the distribution grid. They have also experienced remarkable technological development. Over the past decade, the prices of the batteries they use have fallen by almost 90%, while their energy density, that is, the amount of energy stored relative to mass, has increased by more than 50%. They are also highly safe systems.

Are storage systems efficient?

The BESS units are housed in special containers that are connected to the power grid and equipped with advanced security measures. These enable them to be monitored digitally and remotely, in order to check their operation and to take safe action when maintenance is needed.

Do storage systems pollute?

BESS can be connected to the power grid in basically two ways. They can in fact store electricity only from the renewable energy plant to which they are connected or from both the plant and the power grid. In the second case, battery systems also perform a function as regulators of the power grid. BESS always include inverters, which transform the direct current produced by the renewable plants into alternating current used for transport along the grid. A typical BESS also includes a temperature management system for the site where the batteries are stored, management systems that continuously monitor voltage, temperature, any alarms, and state of charge, and even software tools, such as EMS (Energy Management Systems) that control battery charging and discharging.

Are storage systems safe?

The cost of BESS has been steadily declining over the past decade, although in the past year inflation and the difficulty of finding raw materials has caused it to rise slightly. Compared to 2010, however, their prices have fallen by about 90%.

How do storage systems integrate into the power grid?

Electricity stored in BESS can be used in a number of situations. First and foremost, to balance demand fluctuations and synchronize them with intermittent generation from renewable sources. In this function, they are also useful for regulating electricity costs: storing energy at times when the kWh cost is highest and releasing it when it is lowest incentivizes use during times when tariffs are cheapest, resulting in substantial savings for consumers. The benefits also affect the energy market and supply chain, whereby consumption is distributed more evenly throughout the day, avoiding overloading plants and the grid. This is known as "arbitrage" in the energy market. Furthermore, storage systems are useful as backup solutions in the event of outages or to restart production in the event of a blackout. They can also be used to stabilize the frequency and voltage of the grid when distribution anomalies or imbalances occur.

Are storage systems expensive?

In environmental terms, storage systems are highly sustainable. The lithium-ion batteries they use are recyclable. Enel Green Power also has agreements with its suppliers to encourage recycling and find new uses for the batteries when they are replaced. The Enel Group is actively engaged in developing circular energy concepts in all its business areas.

What benefits can storage systems offer businesses?

One of the main advantages of BESS, whether they are connected to or disconnected from a power generation plant, is that they can help regulate grid management. This is done by storing electricity generated during peak periods and releasing it, for example, at times of day when rates are most advantageous. For companies this possibility can become an important source of savings.

Frequently asked questions about battery storage systems

By 2050, nearly 50% of the electricity fed into the grid will be generated from renewable sources. However, their intermittent nature means that solutions must be found to match electricity production with demand. In this respect BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems) are highly effective. They use batteries (mostly lithium-ion) to store energy and then release it as needed. Here are a series of answers to the main questions about these devices.

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