Is the energy storage industry ready to take on wind power’s biggest challenge?

Wind power has become a mainstream form of renewable energy generation, and the biggest challenge is how to get more electricity from wind turbines. Accomplishing this goal is more complicated than simply increasing the size and efficiency of wind turbines. Wind power does not match electricity demand because wind power is likely to be insufficient during peak electricity demand periods, while being in excess of electricity at other times (especially at night).

In the past, batteries and energy storage systems were relatively expensive and could not make up for the gap between electricity supply and demand. However, with the significant drop in battery prices in recent years, it has had a huge impact on the application and development of wind and solar power generation.

Meeting the challenges of wind power generation

Idaho-based KORE Power is one company using battery storage systems to expand the potential of the global wind energy industry.

Lindsay Gorrill, CEO and director of KORE Power, explained that energy storage systems can help stimulate investor interest in building wind farms because they can significantly reduce the time that wind power facilities are idle or run at lower capacity due to oversupply.

“When people see wind turbines on the roadside, they often find that only a few are operating, which means they are not making full use of the wind energy. Battery energy storage systems can reduce the wasted electricity,” he said.

To be clear, energy storage is only part of the equation when it comes to grid management. There are other considerations. Still, when more capital is invested in renewables, investing in wind farms becomes more attractive. Battery storage has the potential to allow wind farms to operate at close to 100% capacity all the time. Without storage, some wind farms are running at as little as 10% capacity.

Bigger and better wind turbines

These benefits are gaining traction not only because the cost of energy storage is falling, but also because the technology behind wind power generation continues to improve.

Wind farms across the U.S. are operating some inefficient wind turbines. Renewable energy developers can seize the opportunity to deploy and improve wind turbines, which also provides an opportunity to expand the deployment of energy storage systems.

Gorrill also pointed out that, like wind power technology, energy storage technology is also developing rapidly. For example, the widespread use of lithium-ion batteries in the electric vehicle market means that a delicate balance has been found between cost, efficiency, size and weight. In contrast, the field of stationary energy storage mainly focuses on cost and efficiency.

The Mark 1 battery used by KORE Power demonstrates the difference between mobile and fixed energy storage methods. The company has been closely following the iteration and improvement of battery technology.

Energy storage systems replace natural gas power plants

Expanding wind and solar capacity also has a direct impact on the United States' reliance on natural gas-fired power plants.

Grid operators have been building new natural gas peaker plants in recent years to provide more power during peak demand periods, and are now preferring energy storage facilities over natural gas plants.

“One of the biggest opportunities for energy storage is replacing peaker plants with energy storage,” Gorrill explained. “Grid operators around the world have peaker plants that are typically natural gas or coal-fired, but it’s more economically viable to replace them with energy storage.”

Battery storage systems are typically neutral, meaning they can be charged by fossil fuel or nuclear power plants just like renewable electricity. However, the falling costs of wind and solar power are providing a major advantage for renewable energy adoption.

Additionally, regions with aggressive renewable energy deployment goals are driving the adoption of solar-plus-storage projects to replace natural gas plants. A good example is the city of Los Angeles, which plans to abandon plans to build three new natural gas peaker plants in favor of energy storage and renewable energy generation facilities.

More wind power for American businesses

Most importantly, the deployment of energy storage systems has also promoted a new round of development in the U.S. wind power industry. Previously limited to onshore wind farms, U.S. wind power industry manufacturers are planning to develop a large number of offshore wind energy resources.

When this happens, the energy storage industry is ready for it.