Battery storage is a flexible resource. One of the many ways it can be used is to capture and store energy during times of low demand, when it is plentiful and inexpensive, and use it during times of high demand, when energy is in short supply and more expensive.
Energy storage can also support local distribution circuits impacted by the high penetration of renewable resources and improve power quality. Southern California Edison has 3 gigawatts of storage capacity as of June and is actively improving grid reliability with an additional 8. The 2. SCE will use the battery energy storage system to manage this reverse flow.
The plants vary in size, from One way it supports local reliability is during the hottest months when there is an increased demand for electricity, driven by large industrial and commercial customers or the use of residential air conditioners. SCE has installed systems at each of two gas-fired peaker sites β Center substation in Norwalk and Grapeland substation in Rancho Cucamonga. The systems allow the peaker plants to respond quicker to changing energy needs and increase the reliability of the electrical grid while reducing fuel use and air emissions.
Located in Mira Loma, The Tesla Energy battery facility contains two megawatt systems, each containing Tesla Powerpacks and 24 inverters. That is enough to store 80 megawatt-hours of electricity, enough energy to power more than 2, households for a full day.
The modular system allows it to be connected to two separate circuits at the Mira Loma substation. Vehicle-to-grid, or V2G, is two-way technology that allows EV batteries both to charge and discharge power onto the grid while they are plugged in, the same way stationary batteries do. V2G has the potential to make EV owners energy producers. This managing charging effort V1G forms the footing for the rest of vehicle grid integration technologies.
