Just to add to Phil's comments: I've been calculating total life cost
of battery storage (KWH x cycle life x %DOD) and the costs are 15 to
35 cents/ KWH to cycle a battery. Its even higher for sealed batteries
and Li+. It would have to be an amazing cost difference in the TOU
rates to beat the battery cost plus all the losses of AC charging/
discharging a battery.
I agree with Phil, as I've seen utilities obstruct solar since the
1980s. Unfortunately their attitude has still not changed.
Its pretty dumb too; battery storage could help improve the reliability
of the grid.
You can't retire yet folks, we have another battle to fight.
R.Ray Walters
CTO, Solarray, Inc
Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
Licensed Master Electrician
Solar Design Engineer
303 505-8760
On 10/10/2013 12:13 AM, Phil Undercuffler wrote:
However, arbitrage (buying low and selling high) is one of the
lousiest economic models for energy storage. Yes, perhaps you can make
a buck or two if the delta is big enough. However, that's like driving
forty miles in your 4x4 to use a dollar coupon instead of shopping at
the grocery store down the block. There are just better ways to make a
buck.
At the end of the day, what should matter in NEM is what generated the
energy that is exported. The customer should be able to maintain their
battery by charging from grid, solar, or any combination. The
batteries are not a balloon -- energy used to charge them doesn't come
rushing back out. Batteries are like a bucket -- if the inverter can
only sell what flows over the top, then it takes solar input to begin
flowing.
Ultimately, it's going to take a chorus of voices to get the CPUC to
tell the utilities to shape up and stop obstructing these systems. If
people stay silent, the utilities get their way. It's your industry,
it's your business. It's your choice.
Phil Undercuffler
OutBack Power
425-319-2821
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