Four Ways Battery Storage Is Transforming the Electrical Grid

By Julia Roether

Battery storage is a flexible energy storage solution. Batteries can capture and store solar and wind power to use when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing.

Today, the Smart Electric Power Alliance announced that Southern California Edison is No. 1 in battery storage based on the most megawatt-hours last year. The alliance’s 12th annual survey, which includes more than 500 utilities, determines the top 10 rankings.

Here are four ways SCE is using battery storage to transform Southern California’s electrical grid:

Incorporating Solar

The Connolly battery energy storage system is connected to a circuit that supports 15 small solar farms and rooftop solar installations. When customers aren’t using much electricity, excess power can overload the circuit. SCE will use the battery energy storage system to manage this reverse flow of electricity. 

Storing Wind

The Tehachapi Energy Storage Project is located near one of the largest wind generation hubs in the country, the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area. It can supply 32 megawatt-hours of electricity — 8 megawatts of power for four continuous hours. This is enough to power 6,000 homes.

Increasing Reliability

The Hybrid Enhanced Gas Turbine system, or Hybrid GET, is a 10-megawatt battery storage system, combined with the gas turbine. The systems allow the peaker plant to respond quicker to changing energy needs and increase the reliability of the electrical grid. The system is available 24/7 and can instantly step in when the wind or sun can no longer meet system needs.

Improving Circuit Voltage Control

DESI 2 is a battery storage system located in the urban setting. It sits in an SCE right of way at the end of a power circuit in Santa Ana. The system helps improve circuit voltage control, which affects power quality.  

For more information on battery storage, click here.