Battery Energy Storage Systems are becoming game changers.
Battery Energy Storage Systems are the size of shipping containers and can save surplus intermittent energy, such as from wind and solar, for use during the evening or later.
Typically, each shipping-container-sized unit provides 5 megawatt for four hours.
Utilities can install one unit at a time on commercial rooftops or in church parking lots near substations such as Excel Energy is doing in Minnesota, or they can cluster many of them like Portland General Electric has done.
The Portland General Electric battery systems can provide 47 megawatts for four hours.
Ontario Canada and The Southern Company in George are each installing 3000 Mw of batteries and Texas added 6000 Mw of battery capacity in 2025.
This has all been made possible because of the plummeting cost of batteries.
The benefits of Battery Energy Storage Systems include:
• Increased utilization of existing infrastructure
• Reduced upward pressure on rates
• Increased reliability
• Reduced need for new power resources.
Maybe Puget Sound Energy should fund a staff position at the county and fire department to learn from other agencies and develop regulations and safeguards suitable for Rochester.
Don Steinke
Vancouver
