There have been numerous spin offs from the October 2015 rupture at the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility, when 12,000 people fled their homes. San Diego Gas & Electric, and the State of California, woke up with a jolt. They discovered a natural gas reservoir was not a safe place to store energy for peak demand. They turned to batteries in a test case for grid storage and it is panning out well.
A Battery Can Absorb Whatever Power Is Available
Batteries are flexible. They can store electricity whether it comes from coal, nuclear, solar, tidal, or wind. This makes them perfect intermediaries for peaking. Quoting Sonia Aggarwal from a San Francisco energy consultancy via the Guardian newspaper:
“As more of our electricity starts to come from wind and solar, grid storage can collect extra electricity when the sun is shining and the wind is blowing, and then give it back during still nights when we need it to power homes and businesses.”
The Test Case for Grid Storage is Alive and Well
The Alison Canyon test case for grid storage is providing assurances for San Diego residents they will have adequate electricity back up.
A row of silver containers houses battery packs promising they will not be alone in a power outage. When the grid is down, the sun has set, and the wind is not blowing this is their only assurance, and it is working. California already receives 8% of its energy from renewables via moderating battery packs.
There is a law in place requiring 50%of all retail electricity to be renewable in California by 2046. Alas, opposition from organized labor killed the drive to make this 100% the other day. So, this unique test case for grid storage in California pauses for now. The problem was last minute changes. We hope they will be back soon again with a compromise.
Related
California is the Planned Site for World’s Largest Battery
South California Edison New Year Gift
Preview Image: Energy Storage in Moraine, Ohio
