How smaller, distributed batteries could help the grid
If you want to install a big battery in New York City, you have to cut through a notoriously tough tangle of regulations. That’s made it difficult to get large energy storage projects on the grid. Faced with those obstacles, some startups are getting creative, finding ways to use relatively small batteries in unexpected places,…
The grid faces challenges when trying to install large battery installations due to the complicated regulations in place. Smaller, distributed batteries offer a solution to these issues. Startups are finding creative ways to use smaller batteries in various places, such as induction stovetops, food carts, and even induction stoves. These small batteries can add up to a significant amount of capacity when aggregated together.
David Hammer, co-founder of PopWheels, explains that the main challenge for large-scale centralized energy storage providers is that their benefits are abstract, while the costs are concrete. PopWheels has built a battery-swapping system for e-bike delivery drivers, allowing them to swap out depleted batteries for fresh ones at cabinets located across New York City.
This system has already provided a solution for food cart operators who previously relied on gas generators, reducing the need for expensive electrical upgrades.
Some companies, like Copper, are even integrating batteries into appliances like induction stoves, providing resilience during power outages and cost savings for homeowners. Other companies, such as Every Electric and David Energy, are selling plug-in batteries for homes and businesses, offering a reduce-use model during high-stress times. These distributed batteries don't require grid upgrades or extensive permitting processes, making them a more accessible solution for the grid.
If each stove in America were equipped with a battery, it could add up to tens of gigawatts of power, according to Sam Calisch, co-founder and CEO of Copper. Distributed batteries can be aggregated and tapped when the grid is stressed, providing a significant amount of capacity that can help support the intermittency of renewable energy sources like wind and solar.
While large-scale energy storage installations remain crucial for supporting intermittent renewables, the aggregation of distributed batteries could play a vital role in helping the grid handle increased congestion, especially in dense cities like New York, and potentially avoid summer blackouts.
Written by urgent.news from MIT Technology Review's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
