Tesla Battery Storage Project to Power Electric Grid

[Gary350z]

Look what there going to build by me in California; a lithium-ion battery storage facility to power the electric grid.

See attachment.

Is this economically feasible?

They say they are going to build the whole facility and have online in only 3.5 months.

Don't lithium-ion batteries have a life time of about 200 charges? So in about 200 days you have to buy a new set of batteries?

Attention Dave, this ones just right for you to analyze.

[Neilm]

Don't lithium-ion batteries have a life time of about 200 charges? So in about 200 days you have to buy a new set of batteries?

Depends on how deeply discharged the cells are. If the cell is only discharged to 40% it will last much longer than if it is fully discharged.

[Ice-Tea]

Makes sense if you want to live off-grid I suppose.

Otherwise:

Grid-Operator: "Hey, we have some troubles keeping our grid balanced with all the green energy and all, like to lend a hand?"
House Owner: "Sure thing, Billy Bob, let me install this 15k$ device in my home you can use for FREE!"

So, uhm, no.

[David Hess]

Is this economically feasible?

Read the fine print:

Edison and other California utilities are under a 2013 order by the state Public Utilities Commission to install 1.3 gigawatts of storage capacity by 2020.

So no, it is not economical except in the sense of avoiding fines and persecution by the state.  I bet the bank accounts of the politicians involved will benefit from that order.

[Gary350z]

Is this economically feasible?

Read the fine print:

>Edison and other California utilities are under a 2013 order by the state Public Utilities Commission to install 1.3 gigawatts of storage capacity by 2020.

So no, it is not economical except in the sense of avoiding fines and persecution by the state.  I bet the bank accounts of the politicians involved will benefit from that order.

Yes I immediately noticed the fine print!!

[nctnico]

A few days ago a Dutch electricity company announced to install a similar system in the Netherlands for people who have solar panels. If you need to pay for the battery yourself it is not worth it (not by a long shot) but if the battery is dual purpose and the system designed around it is clever it can be used to level peaks in both supply (from solar and wind) and demand. One of the problems with solar and wind is that backup capacity needs to be standby and there are few types of power plants which can ramp up/down quickly enough and they are also not the most efficient (gas turbine for example).

[Red Squirrel]

Look what there going to build by me in California; a lithium-ion battery storage facility to power the electric grid.

See attachment.

Is this economically feasible?

They say they are going to build the whole facility and have online in only 3.5 months.

Don't lithium-ion batteries have a life time of about 200 charges? So in about 200 days you have to buy a new set of batteries?

Attention Dave, this ones just right for you to analyze.

I always had the impression they were good for thousands of cycles, and even more if you don't cycle them as deeply.  Some of the higher end lead acid batteries can get in the thousands. (trojan, surrette etc).   

The idea of making a storage bank for at home sounds interesting, to try to not use any power on peak.  But I don't think it would really be worthwhile by the time you consider the cost of the system, and the fact that more than half the hydro bill is fixed fees, not actual usage.

[NiHaoMike]

The idea of making a storage bank for at home sounds interesting, to try to not use any power on peak.  But I don't think it would really be worthwhile by the time you consider the cost of the system, and the fact that more than half the hydro bill is fixed fees, not actual usage.

If the service charges are that high, it can be worth considering going off grid.

[Red Squirrel]

The idea of making a storage bank for at home sounds interesting, to try to not use any power on peak.  But I don't think it would really be worthwhile by the time you consider the cost of the system, and the fact that more than half the hydro bill is fixed fees, not actual usage.

If the service charges are that high, it can be worth considering going off grid.

Yeah that is really the only viable way to truly save.  Something I've been looking at.   I have a small property which makes it harder though but could possibly be doable with a natural gas generator as backup.  Would need to be in a sound dampening enclosure of sorts.