How smaller, distributed batteries could help the grid
If you want to install a big battery in New York City, you have to cut through a notoriously tough tangle of regulations. That’s made it difficult to get large energy storage projects on the grid.
Installing large-scale batteries in cities like New York is difficult due to complex regulations. These rules aim to address safety concerns, particularly after high-profile incidents such as battery fires at utility-scale storage sites like the Vistra Moss Landing facility. David Hammer, cofounder of PopWheels, noted that the main challenge for large centralized storage providers is that their benefits are hard to see while their costs are immediate and tangible. This makes it harder to gain public and regulatory support for big projects.
Startups are turning to small, distributed batteries to bypass regulatory hurdles while still contributing to the energy grid. For example, PopWheels created a battery-swapping system for e-bike delivery drivers in New York City. Drivers exchange depleted batteries for charged ones at cabinets, avoiding downtime for charging. There are 50 cabinets and 2,500 batteries in use. The company now supplies batteries to food cart operators, replacing gas generators. Four of these batteries provide 5 kilowatt-hours, enough for a day’s operation for many carts.
Copper, a company, integrates batteries into induction stoves, allowing residents to cook during power outages. These stoves can also reduce the need for expensive electrical upgrades by providing power during use. Sam Calisch, Copper’s cofounder and CEO, emphasized that the focus is not just on resilience but also on cost savings for homeowners. Other companies like Every Electric and David Energy sell plug-in batteries for homes and businesses. Every Electric’s battery plugs into an air-conditioning unit, while David Energy targets businesses such as laundromats, parking garages, and gyms.
Small or integrated batteries do not require extensive permitting or grid upgrades, making them easier to deploy. This approach is similar to the growing trend of balcony solar, where small solar modules plug into homes to offset energy demand. These batteries can be quickly installed and start providing benefits immediately, such as reducing pollution or lowering power bills. James McGinniss, cofounder and CEO of David Energy, described this shift as the biggest change in the power grid sector in the last 20 years.
If every stove in the United States were shipped with a battery, it could add up to tens of gigawatts of power capacity. This aggregated capacity could be used when the grid is under stress, such as during peak demand periods. Calisch from Copper highlighted that this distributed approach could help avoid summer blackouts in congested cities like New York. While large-scale energy storage remains essential for supporting intermittent renewables like wind and solar, smaller batteries could play a significant supporting role.
As battery costs continue to decline, they are expected to become more common in everyday devices, from stoves to e-bikes. This trend could bring multiple benefits, including cleaner air and lower power bills for consumers. However, large-scale energy storage projects will still be necessary to meet the growing electricity demand and support renewable energy sources. The article suggests that the combined effect of many small batteries could complement, but not replace, the critical role of large-scale storage in the energy grid.
