More electric cooperatives heed the sage advice to save their energy – and benefit the families and businesses on their lines.
Innovative technology has transformed traditional practices in a variety of industries – and electric cooperatives are no exception. Power providers, including Wabash Valley Power Alliance and its member co-ops, are taking advantage of evolutions in battery technology to save electricity more effectively. WVPA has teamed with several member co-ops to install small-scale battery storage at substations. These new utility-scale batteries have numerous advantages, including energy cost stability for families and businesses. Additional advantages include:
- A more resilient energy grid. Many people do not realize that most electricity is generated in real time. Power providers must ensure that they can adequately meet electricity demand all day, every day – no exceptions. Batteries can store electricity and dispatch it should an unexpected need arise, particularly during a frigid snowstorm or a sweltering summer day.
- Efficiently stored electricity. Since electricity is continuously generated, excess power available during low-demand times can go unused. Batteries can store this surplus energy and dispatch it later, when that electricity can be more effectively used. This can reduce the peak demand during the day and, over time, help minimize the need for future generation facilities to be built.
- Good backup when demand skyrockets. You may know the laws of supply and demand, particularly as they relate to price. Electricity works the same way: as demand goes up, such as brutally scorching summer days when everyone cranks up the air conditioning, the price to generate electricity to meet that demand can soar through the roof. By dispatching batteries to meet that skyrocketing demand, electric co-ops can benefit financially while ensuring grid stability.
- Tax revenue and rate support for co-op members. WVPA can partner with its member co-ops to avoid extremely high costs of energy by batteries dispatching electricity during times of high demand. This cost savings can, in turn, help keep distribution co-op members’ rates low. The batteries can even generate local tax revenue to further support the community.
Battery storage will grow into an invaluable piece of the puzzle to ensure grid reliability and best serve co-op communities. It will be exciting to learn what new developments will be in store – figuratively! – for the future of batteries.