This is well worth a read: http://www.infratil.com/assets/impor...015-226958.pdf
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This is well worth a read: http://www.infratil.com/assets/impor...015-226958.pdf
With batterys the load can be shifted to maximise value and security of supply Is not required. Value is lost by all in the industry.IFT Do not cover batteries
Battery technology needs replacing more often than one may think, I have not done the numbers, but the capital outlay is likely large, and often (say every 4 or 5 years before the batteries simply don't hold sufficient charge). Therefore batteries will probably cost more than the extra revenue gained from 'storing' energy for selling at a higher demand time in the day, not to mention other issues such as overheating and storage etc.
Obviously a company like Tesla could come along and try 'revolutionize' battery technology, but this is likely to be many years away before battery technology significantly improves.
I think that the way the battery storage system could work is for the battery to perform a double function, such as powering a motor car plus backing up the house battery supply. That system would charge all batteries overnight plus during slack periods of the day. Also it would assume electric cars would normally be garaged at home during the evening.
What is never discussed is the cost of maintenance. Petrol engines today require very little maintenance. Battery maintenance could be more expensive than petrol!
Battery storage is only chosen if absolutely necessary due to huge up-front cost eg PV + battery installation is really only viable when there is no economic local electricity reticulation.
In NZ with no PV solar subsidy, simple grid-tied is the only viable option. Still has a 5-10 year ROI. Most solar generation between 10am-4pm, shorter in winter. Peak load 6-9am & 5-8pm ish. Minimal to zero peak demand off-setting
Current battery technology lacks energy density (it's called a power wall because that's how big it is) and cost still too high. Lithium based batteries aren't the answer because lithium is a very scarce element that is expensive to extract = high cost now and as demand increases, so will the price. Aluminium based batteries are sounding more viable, but still experimental. Potential good news for NZ generators because Tiwai Pt aluminium is very pure
And that is part of the problem with EVs. Peak demand in winter is from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Plug in an electric vehicle when you get home at 6:00 pm and it adds to that peak demand and lengthens the duration of the peak. An extra 10 KW of demand per EV for 8 hours certainly won't help with smoothing the peaks.
Lithium not so scare and production prices will drop alot.Lithium is being produced @ re $2000 tonne at ORE(evaporation based) but haven't reached nameplate yet. LIT will be producing even cheaper Li from waste rock Micas but still to prove this up in any decent scale.