Emissions Breakdown
- Battery Manufacturing: Lithium-ion battery production emits 2400+ kg CO₂ per 80 kWh battery, translating to ~30-40 kg CO₂e/MWh for operational emissions from construction and maintenance (assuming 20-year lifespan and 20% capacity factor, similar to VRB/PSB BESS data).
- Traditional Fossil Plants: Coal and gas plants emit ~800-1,300 kg CO₂e/MWh during operation, dwarfing battery manufacturing emissions. Natural gas plants, when paired with compressed air energy storage (CAES), still emit 288 kg CO₂e/MWh from fuel alone.
Operational Characteristics
- Battery Function: Serve as secondary storage, not primary generation. When charged with renewable energy, their operational emissions approach near-zero.
- Fossil Plants: Continuous CO₂ output from fuel combustion, with coal being the most intensive.
Lifecycle Comparisons
- Battery Storage: Emissions dominated by manufacturing (e.g., lithium extraction, cell production), but lifespan (typically 15-20 years) limits total impact relative to coal plants operating for 30-50 years.
- Hybrid Systems: CAES paired with fossil generation emits ~288 kg CO₂e/MWh from fuel use alone, while batteries charged by renewables avoid fuel emissions entirely.
Key Data Summary
| Technology | CO₂e/MWh Source | Typical Emissions Range |
|---|---|---|
| Lithium-ion BESS | Manufacturing + O&M | 30-40 kg |
| Coal Plant | Fuel combustion | 800-1,300 kg |
| Gas Plant | Fuel combustion | 450-600 kg |
| CAES + Gas | Fuel combustion | 288 kg (fuel only) |
Batteries exhibit lower lifetime emissions when paired with renewables, whereas traditional plants inherently produce higher emissions due to continuous fossil fuel use. However, battery manufacturing remains energy-intensive compared to non-fueled storage like pumped hydro.
Critical Note: Batteries enable renewable integration, indirectly offsetting fossil emissions. Their net climate benefit depends on the carbon intensity of the grid charging them.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-do-the-emissions-from-utility-scale-batteries-compare-to-those-from-traditional-power-plants/
