In the Arizona desert, a Danish firm is constructing a large-scale solar energy project with storage batteries that collect and redistribute power from the sunlight during periods of reduced production.

Using renewable energy sources like batteries is a rapidly expanding solution to combat climate change.

Mads Nipper, CEO of Ørsted, stated that solar farms and turbines can only generate electricity when the sun is shining and the wind is blowing. In order for us to make the most of the green energy 24 hours a day, we also need to store some of it.

The use of batteries, especially lithium-ion batteries, to store energy on a large scale is quickly rising in the United States. These are frequently combined with solar and wind initiatives, such as in Arizona. According to the organizations responsible for managing electric grids, utility companies, and renewable energy developers, integrating these technologies is crucial for a sustainable energy future.

Rechargeable cells enable sustainable energy to substitute traditional resources such as oil, natural gas, and coal. They also provide a constant supply of electricity during periods of low production from wind and solar sources. As an illustration, energy generated from overnight winds can be stored in batteries for later use during peak demand hours when individuals are awake and using more electricity.

Juan Mendez, a Tempe, Arizona resident, receives electricity from the Salt River Project, a local utility that is working with Ørsted on the Eleven Mile Solar Center. In his role as a state senator, Mendez advocated for SRP to transition to sustainable energy sources.

He believes that the energy company is still devoting excessive resources to gas and coal facilities, despite plans to greatly expand a natural gas plant in Coolidge, Arizona near a solar energy center.

Mendez stated that while the solar-plus-storage initiative is a positive move, SRP should undertake further actions to promote cleaner energy and reduce air pollution, as well as contribute towards combatting climate change.

The company stated that it will be incorporating more sustainable energy sources into its energy blend and has made a commitment to eradicate all carbon emissions by the year 2050.

The U.S. has the second most electrical storage in the world, after China. In 2023, the U.S. added an estimated 7.5 gigawatts — 62% more than in 2022, according to the BloombergNEF and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy factbook. That amount can power 750,000 homes for a day and brings the total amount of installed capacity nationwide to nearly enough for 2 million homes for one day, according to BloombergNEF.

California is at the forefront of energy storage in the United States as it takes strong action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It outpaces other states with twice the amount of energy storage. The installation of battery systems for homes, businesses, and large-scale use in California has surged by 757% in just four years, resulting in enough energy to sustain 6.6 million households for four hours, according to the California Energy Commission.

Due to a directive from the California Public Utilities Commission in 2013, power companies have been increasing their use of energy storage through battery technology in order to meet clean energy mandates by 2020. This trend has continued in recent years.

Southern California Edison is one utility adding thousands of hours of energy storage. It is putting in solar-plus-batteries to replace some power plants that burn natural gas and would typically supply electricity in the evening.

“Having cleanliness without reliability is insufficient,” stated William Walsh, the vice president in charge of energy procurement and management. “It is crucial that we have both.”

The significance of batteries was demonstrated in California during the hot September of 2022. In the midst of a heat wave, temperatures soared above 100 degrees in the western region. On September 6, 2022, the demand for electricity peaked at the highest level that had ever been recorded in the state, as individuals turned on their air conditioners.

According to Walsh, the inclusion of new batteries in the power system from 2020 to 2022 played a vital role in preventing power outages. This was especially significant as just two years prior, California experienced rotational electricity blackouts during a similar intense heat wave.

Texas currently ranks second in the amount of battery storage it has, placing behind only California. Schneider Electric recently unveiled a partnership with ENGIE North America, an energy company, in order to install solar and battery systems throughout Texas. This is a strategic move in line with Schneider Electric’s goal of achieving 100% renewable energy in both the United States and Canada. According to Hans Royal, the senior director for renewable energy and carbon advisory at Schneider Electric, this deal and the required investment of $80 million would not have been feasible before the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022.

The Royal company is recommending to other multinational Fortune 500 businesses that they enter the market.

According to Royal, both the industry and the grid require it.

In rural Pinal County, Arizona, the Eleven Mile Solar Center by Ørsted spans 2,000 acres and consists of 857,000 solar panels. Additionally, the center features 2,000 cube-like structures resembling shipping containers that hold battery modules. Ørsted has also established similar projects in Texas, Alabama, and Europe, focused on solar energy and storage.

In the upcoming summer, the Arizona facility will begin operation and the majority of solar energy produced at the farm will be directed to Meta’s data center in Mesa, owned by Facebook. Any leftover solar power, along with the stored power in the batteries, will be distributed to the nearby utility’s clients. These new batteries have the capability to provide electricity to around 65,000 households during high demand periods.

“I am amazed by the fast-paced growth of this market,” stated Yayoi Sekine, the leader of energy storage at BloombergNEF. “There is immense pressure for the U.S. and various regions to reduce carbon emissions, and storage technology plays a significant role in achieving that goal. There is a strong sense of progress in this area.”

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Source: wral.com