Home energy storage equipment is used to store electrical energy for use when needed, also known as power storage products or "battery storage systems", hereinafter referred to as home storage. The core component of home storage is rechargeable batteries, generally lithium-ion batteries or lead-acid batteries. The other components are inverters and intelligent control systems for charging and discharging.
As energy storage enters ordinary households, we can realize the concept of distributed power generation, alleviate the pressure of power transmission in the grid, and reduce the use of fossil fuels. It is a necessary decentralized measure to achieve carbon neutrality or zero neutrality.
Before we delve into home storage, let's first understand the development history of energy storage systems:
In the 1950s and 1960s, the U.S. Department of Energy launched energy storage system projects, led by Sandia National Laboratories, to conduct research on how to reserve nuclear energy. In the 1970s, due to the serious oil crisis in the United States, the focus of Sandia Laboratory's research shifted to renewable energy sources that could replace oil. In the 1980s, the U.S. Department of Energy further expanded the Sandia Laboratory research project - while creating renewable energy, explore battery development and testing projects. Since then, Sandia National Laboratories has undertaken the exploration of energy storage projects. However, the concept of energy storage at that time was still at the national level and did not involve commercial or civil use.
In 1991, the project was upgraded to the grid battery energy storage project and began to test some commercial power storage facilities. During this period, the International Lead and Zinc Organization and power research institutions also participated in the research. By 1996, the energy storage system had taken shape and started to expand into commercial and civil use.
At the national level
Overcoming transmission losses: It is inevitable that power transmission from power plants to homes will incur power losses, especially in densely populated cities where it is impossible to build power plants within them, resulting in greater transmission losses. However, if households are encouraged to generate and store their own electricity, reducing incoming power transmission, transmission losses can be greatly reduced, achieving power grid transmission efficiency.
Grid support
If the household energy storage system is connected to the grid, surplus power generated by households can be fed into the grid, which can greatly alleviate the pressure on the grid:
Provide power supply response during peak demand periods, reducing the use of inefficient diesel generators.
Use power frequency matching the local grid.
Reduce the use of fossil fuels: By storing self-generated electricity at home, power consumption efficiency can be greatly improved, and fossil fuel-based power generation technologies such as natural gas, coal, oil, and diesel will gradually be phased out.
Household level
Reduce energy expenses: By generating and storing electricity on their own, households can greatly reduce grid electricity consumption.
Avoid peak electricity prices: The home energy storage system's batteries can store electricity during off-peak demand periods and discharge it during peak demand periods.
Achieve power independence: Families can store solar power generated during the day for use at night, and it can also serve as a backup power source in case of power outages.
