MIT responds: batteries are critical to the future electric grid, but they have their limits
Recognizing their critical role in the future grid, MIT still sees limits to batteries in an intermittent renewable-dominated power sector. In this op-ed, John Reilly, co-director of the MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change, explains why.
SunCast episode 204 – Tim Effio of Fluence on how storage is disrupting Caribbean thermal generation models
In this episode of SunCast, Nico talks with Tim Effio, head of Latam & Caribbean markets for Fluence on the macro and micro implications of Solar + Storage and its integration into emerging markets.
MIT sees wind+solar going big, dreams of nuclear, forgets batteries exist
Researchers see wind and solar headed to over 40% of US electricity generation, even without major national policy. However, analysts project that beyond 40%, the intermittent nature of these sources will drive costs higher without nuclear power than with it.
Tell the kids, that 50% solar powered future of ours, it’s going to work just fine – NREL says so!
National Renewable Energy Lab researchers hourly modeled the whole of the United States, and when more than half of all electricity is coming from solar power, there would be no technical deal killers, but many spring days with free electricity that we would have to learn to use, and a need to financially recognize the predictability and grid stabilizing attributes of solar and storage.
Solar capacity could soar with electrified transport and heating
With wide adoption of electric vehicles and heat pumps, Colorado’s least-cost grid would reach 21 GW of solar capacity, 12 GW of wind, and 7 GW of storage by 2040, while electric rates would decline. These modeling results apply to other states as well.
Solar (and efficiency) are driving down peak demand in New England
The impacts of solar on New England’s grid are transforming the needs of the system, and this is new ground for the region.
Grid solutions: An interview with Greg Tremelling of Oztek
In this interview, pv magazine sits down with Greg Tremelling, VP of business development at Oztek Corp, to talk about his company’s solutions and where he sees the energy storage industry going.
First Solar advises contracting for solar capacity, not MWh, to enable flexible operation
Flexible solar plant operation can save a utility money. First Solar says it’s time for solar power purchase agreements to catch up to that fact.
A penny for your powerlines
Research by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory suggests that overall costs of transmission needed to integrate variable renewables is between 0.1-1¢/kWh, on top of the 2.9-4.6¢/kWh utility scale wind and solar power costs.
Back to the battery future
Rocky Mountain Institute’s new predicts unprecedented battery storage development in the next decade and beyond. And, while li-ion will remain to be the tech that’s hot in the streets in the short term, the future is diverse.
