Energy storage plays a critical role in reducing emissions from fossil-fueled peaking power plants, often called “peakers,” which are typically among the dirtiest and most polluting plants on the grid. These plants run only during peak demand periods but contribute disproportionately to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and localized air pollution.
How energy storage reduces emissions from peakers:
- Replacing fossil-fueled peaker plants: Battery energy storage systems (BESS) can cost-effectively replace aging fossil-fueled peaker plants by providing the necessary peak power without burning fossil fuels. This shift significantly cuts GHG emissions and local pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, which are hard to control in quick-starting peaker plants.
- Reducing peak demand and emissions: Energy storage can absorb excess renewable energy during low-demand periods and dispatch it during peak demand, reducing reliance on fossil peakers that would otherwise have to ramp up. This leads to lower overall emissions from the grid.
- Hybridization with fossil plants: Pairing battery storage with peaker plants (hybridization) can reduce emissions by allowing the batteries to handle frequent starts and stops and partial loads, which are emission-intensive for gas turbines alone. However, hybridization must be managed carefully to avoid prolonging the life of polluting plants unnecessarily.
- Health and environmental benefits: Adding battery storage helps slash localized pollution around peaker plants, which often impacts vulnerable communities. This reduces health risks associated with pollutants like nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.
- Grid resiliency and equity: Battery storage not only cuts emissions but also improves grid resiliency by providing instant backup power during emergencies. It supports clean energy goals and equitable access to cleaner energy resources.
Overall, battery energy storage is seen as a cleaner, economically viable, and environmentally beneficial alternative to fossil-fueled peakers. Many states incorporating clean energy plans include energy storage as a central strategy to meet tightening emission reduction targets and to phase out dirty peaker plants.
In summary, energy storage reduces emissions from peaking plants by:
- Displacing fossil fuel use during peak demand with clean stored energy
- Enabling more efficient operation or replacement of polluting peakers
- Lowering local air pollution and related health impacts
- Enhancing grid flexibility and renewable integration
These factors make energy storage a key tool in decarbonizing the electricity sector and achieving stronger climate and public health outcomes.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/what-role-does-energy-storage-play-in-reducing-emissions-from-peaking-plants/
