“So if we can have solar generation at $0.02-0.03 per kWh and if you can have a levelized cost of a battery that may fall below $0.10 per kWh you suddenly get to have energy that is 100 percent firm and buffered from photovoltaics that is cheaper than fossil energy,” he said. That goal is in “grasping distance” according to Straubel.

This would apply to wind and wave energy too. And it makes it a heck of a lot easier to create local grids.

WanderingEng:

It would apply to all energy sources, including coal and natural gas. Not needing to cycle them with load will improve their cost effectiveness. At the utility scale, pairing batteries with oil and diesel will likely happen before pairing them with wind or solar. I'd watch Hawaii or other similarly sized and populated islands that heavily rely on oil for electricity production.

As for local grids, I agree batteries make it easier, but I think the economics will still include a large interconnected network. Sharing resources is why the grid was connected in the first place, and whether it's coal and hydro or solar and batteries, sharing resources can push costs down for everyone.


posted 3177 days ago