Submitted by star_tyger t3_11m4s98 in vermont
Aperron t1_jbjlfnb wrote
Reply to comment by Howard_Scott_Warshaw in Solar energy in Vermont? by star_tyger
Which is also incredibly expensive to install, requires eventual replacement of the most expensive component (the battery), and is finite in capacity. It would be cheaper to install a few gas turbine peaker plants around the state in locations where there is natural gas pipeline infrastructure than to install thousands of home batteries to achieve the same peak demand management results.
Howard_Scott_Warshaw t1_jbjnv2m wrote
Peakers share many of those same costs.
GMP saved about $1M in each quarter of 2020 by dispatching distributed home batteries.
Aperron t1_jbjpb5y wrote
The cost savings described in that article compare the cost of covering peaks above our contractually agreed capacity from HydroQuebec with Powerwalls versus needing to purchase the difference at the variable market rates from ISONE when they’re at their absolute highest due to demand.
They are not comparing against the cost of covering that shortfall with local GMP owned gas or even fuel oil fired peakers.
Of course, a site focusing on green energy isn’t going to make that type of comparison in a situation where fossil fuels might provide a cheaper solution.
Howard_Scott_Warshaw t1_jbjs97x wrote
Large scale battery peakers are already a thing. Even utilities are installing them.
https://www.wbur.org/news/2019/04/08/battery-energy-storage-eversource-cape-vineyard
https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/trending/mi3jqiwt6yfg9nvljqpkkw2
Aperron t1_jbjtho2 wrote
That’s wonderful. A $40+ million dollar installation, being built in response to a state mandate to build battery storage.
The installation can supply power to a small area for between 3 to 10 hours and then becomes entirely useless once discharged.
Remove the political constraints and I bet the ROI on a gas turbine is much better.
Howard_Scott_Warshaw t1_jbjyi1u wrote
You're acting like fossil fuels aren't subsidized as well, and also forgetting about the blackouts in TX caused by frozen nat. gas pipelines. I'm sure you would agree those plants were "entirely useless".
I would agree, remove subsidies and political constraints and let the technologies fight it out. However this is a bit of a fantasy world, and if it were to happen I believe nuclear would see a resurgence and take over as the prime mover.
Hopefully this discussion is pointless in 20 years once fusion technology takes off.
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