On the illustration from storage-lab, we can verify which technologies are being used in each system size as shown below. We can clearly see that lead-acid batteries are dominant in all sectors due to technological maturity, wider usage, and low prices. Soon though, lithium-ion batteries will catch up and replace lead-acid batteries.
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A short comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of different types of batteries helps indicate when each technology can be used at its best.
Lithium Iron Phosphate (LPF): used for energy storage due to their safety and lower cost than NMC by manufacturers such as BYD, Pylontech, Solax Triplepower, Sonnen…
Safety First: As always, safety for installers, their clients and the system are the priorities.
Transportation: Batteries and especially Lithium-ion batteries may be listed as hazardous goods that require special transportation methods. Installers should check carefully with distributors or manufacturers about these conditions in advance. Read more.
Care about the end of life process: Batteries generally have a shorter lifetime than other components of the system, which means that the installer must find out what to do with them after decommissioning. Chemical-based batteries may contain hazardous or toxic substances. Work with manufacturers to get instructions on how to dispose of batteries safely.
Nevertheless, this rapid expansion now faces intensified challenges due to multiple factors: few easy sites left, escalating grid interconnection delays, stringent regulatory and environmental considerations, and evolving power demands.
To effectively tackle these multifaceted obstacles and ensure the long-term success and profitability of such projects, advanced site selection and analysis tools have become indispensable.
Choosing the right site is the single most important decision when developing a BESS project. However, along with other challenges, site selection has become increasingly complex — some even call it a "scavenger hunt." The reason: the sheer number of requirements that must be met.
Key considerations for battery energy storage projects include grid stability, renewable integration, and energy market conditions. As BESS must support grid reliability, absorb excess solar power, and react to market signals, their ideal locations are near high-demand areas, generation sites, or key transmission points.
Thus, relying on traditional siting methods can easily lead to poor site selection, which in turn incurs significant financial and operational risks. High upfront capital can be wasted if a site lacks adequate power to charge the battery or inject the energy back onto the grid, has inadequate energy prices, or is in a disaster-prone area, leading to massive long-term costs.
Last but not least, grid capacity and limited interconnection analysis stand out as perhaps one of the major pain points in critical infrastructure project development. For instance, grid limits forcing output curtailment or preventing optimal charging lead to eroded profits for combined BESS and renewable energy projects. Hence, thorough site evaluation is vital for long-term success.
The following is a list of all the major factors to consider when selecting a site for an energy storage project.
Power (availability, cost, and clean access) is nowadays the most critical factor in the site selection process. The unprecedented power demand has strained regional grid capacity and shifted site selection to a power-first siting approach.
Optimal sites are located near points of interest (POIs), such as substations or major transmission lines, to minimize connection costs.
Key factors to consider for POIs include:
Grid capacity (how much power can be withdrawn to charge, and how much power can be injected without breaking the grid),
Required grid upgrade costs and how much the project will have to take on (allocated costs).
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A BESS project's profitability is all about location, but timing too: charging when power is cheap and selling it when prices are high. This is where locational marginal pricing (LMP) becomes a key signal, as it indicates where electricity is most and least valuable on the grid.
Thus, BESS projects can take advantage of large and predictable LMP price spreads by choosing sites:
At or near transmission congestion points, where local prices can spike, or at renewable energy hubs, where prices may drop during peak generation hours.
Another factor to consider is basis risk, which is the financial uncertainty tied to a project's location. This happens when the local (nodal) price differs from the market hub price, potentially leading to financial losses.:
To minimize basis risk, developers should choose sites with a historically stable and predictable basis risk.
Finding the perfect site for an energy storage system can be challenging. PVcase Prospect streamlines the entire site selection process, helping developers find and evaluate potential sites by bringing all essential data insights into a single unified solution while layering in flexible, scalable automation to conduct advanced analysis.
Furthermore, it not only removes the need for many different tools but also reduces data inconsistencies and speeds up important due diligence for diverse projects.
Provides critical grid and interconnection information for battery storage. PVcase runs the same power flow studies that grid operators do, assessing power delivery certainty, likely upgrade costs, and interconnection risks so developers avoid late-stage interconnection queue surprises.
Users can filter for geolocated substations by both injection and withdrawal capacity and see upgrade costs and allocation breakdown. This helps find power while balancing costs, minimizing curtailment risk, and shortening interconnection timelines.
Rapidly identifies and analyzes land parcels based on specific site selection criteria, such as acreage and proximity to POIs. It also integrates zoning data for quick land use checks, saving research time and ensuring smooth project development.
Provides historical LMP data to pinpoint ideal areas of the grid with optimal energy prices, ensuring the project's cost-effectiveness and profitability. By utilizing the minimum and maximum price spreads data, users can identify the cheapest locations to charge the battery at a low price and inject energy at a cost-effective price, as well as analyze the basis risk.
Offers advanced natural hazard analysis to help avoid risky sites and safeguard investments. This includes the leading, predictive, climate-adjusted flood, wildfire, and hurricane winds risk so developers can assess actual risk without waiting for expensive one-off studies.
Uses the best-available digital elevation models to process slope analysis (slope angle, aspect). This helps identify buildable areas, understand earthwork needs, and ensure optimal layouts, minimizing costs.
PVcase Prospect offers geolocated fiber routes, including type, operator, owner, and status. This ensures low latency and high bandwidth.
Includes data on existing roads and railways to assess distance and ease of access for construction, maintenance, and equipment delivery. This aids logistical planning and evaluating overall site viability.
Selecting the right location for a BESS site is a complex challenge, with significant financial and operational stakes.
PVcase Prospect is the ideal all-in-one solution to tackle any challenge that might surface in the process. It empowers professionals to make highly informed, data-driven decisions, streamlines the whole process, reduces risks, and accelerates development.
Ultimately, PVcase Prospect helps secure the long-term success of these vital infrastructure projects, ensuring optimal performance and economic viability for our energy future.
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