"More and more, big arrays of lithium-ion batteries are being hooked up to electrical grids around the U.S. to store power that can be discharged in times of high demand. But as more energy storage is added, residents in some places are pushing back due to fears that the systems will go up in flames, as a massive facility in California did earlier this year. Proponents maintain that state-of-the-art battery energy storage systems are safe, but more localities are enacting moratoriums."
"Battery energy storage systems that suck up cheap power during periods of low demand, then discharge it at a profit during periods of high demand, are considered critical with the rise of intermittent energy sources such as wind and solar. Known by the acronym BESS, the systems can make grids more reliable and have been credited with reducing blackouts. A large battery system might consist of rows of shipping containers in a fenced lot, with the containers holding hundreds of thousands of cells."
Large arrays of lithium-ion batteries are increasingly connected to U.S. electrical grids to store power for high-demand periods. Battery energy storage systems (BESS) absorb cheap power during low demand and discharge it during high demand, supporting intermittent wind and solar generation. BESS installations can improve grid reliability and have been credited with reducing blackouts; large systems often occupy fenced lots of shipping containers holding hundreds of thousands of cells. Rapid deployment has triggered safety concerns after high-profile fires, prompting dozens of local moratoriums and intense community opposition in places such as Long Island and Island Park. China and the United States lead global additions of battery storage capacity.
Read at Fortune
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