Battery storage contributes to reducing carbon footprints primarily by enabling more efficient use of low-carbon electricity and smoothing out demand on the grid, although the extent of this benefit depends on how the batteries are used and charged.
How Battery Storage Reduces Carbon Footprints
- Charging at Low Carbon Intensity Times: Battery energy storage systems can charge during periods when the grid’s carbon intensity is low, such as overnight when renewable or nuclear generation often predominates, and then discharge during peak demand periods when fossil fuel generation would otherwise be used. This shifts consumption to cleaner energy, thereby reducing associated carbon emissions from electricity use.
- Grid Services and Frequency Response: Batteries provide grid stability services like frequency response which help integrate more variable renewable energy sources by balancing supply and demand. In Great Britain, such services have contributed to lowering power sector emissions by over 1% since 2021, mainly through improved grid operation rather than direct energy substitution. This demonstrates an indirect but meaningful carbon benefit of battery storage.
- Avoiding Fossil Fuel Peaker Plants: By discharging stored clean energy during peak demand, batteries reduce reliance on fossil fuel peaker plants that emit high levels of CO2 per kWh. This results in net emission reductions compared to scenarios without battery storage.
Considerations and Limitations
- Environmental Impact of Battery Production: The manufacturing and raw material extraction for batteries do have a carbon footprint. For lithium-ion batteries, estimates suggest emissions around 59 to 119 kg CO2 per kWh of battery capacity depending on production methods. Advances such as reduced cobalt content and renewable-powered manufacturing have lowered this footprint significantly.
- Net Effect Depends on Grid Mix and Usage: If batteries are charged predominantly from fossil-fueled generation or used primarily for energy arbitrage without reducing fossil generation, their carbon benefit can be negligible or even negative. Some grid-scale batteries today may not reduce emissions if sited or operated improperly.
- Lifespan and Second Life: Extending battery life and finding second-life applications for used batteries further reduce the overall carbon footprint per unit of stored energy.
Summary
Battery storage reduces carbon footprints by storing low-carbon or renewable electricity when available and releasing it during periods of higher grid carbon intensity, thus displacing fossil-fuel electricity generation and supporting grid stability for renewables. While their production has a carbon cost, optimized use of battery storage can result in significant net reductions in carbon emissions on power grids.
In Great Britain, this has translated to over a 1% emissions reduction in the power sector since 2021, mainly through grid service contributions. However, the overall carbon benefit depends heavily on the energy mix used for charging, battery siting, and operational strategies.
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