High time we put more store in power storage

Source: Dr. Jolly Wong · THE STANDARD · | July 6, 2020

The Hornsdale Power Reserve in south Australia is the world's largest lithium-ion battery system in the world at 185 MWh. Reuters

This week I want to explore how the application of lithium-ion batteries, aside from use in electric vehicles, has the potential to help us build a more sustainable future, as well as highlight some challenges.

The key innovation in Li-ion batteries is its high energy density. They provide a greater electric range per volume than most other rechargeable batteries.

Thus, they can power mobile devices and EVs without taking up much space.

But Li-ion batteries can also be used in energy storage systems.

Such systems are an important part of the electricity grid. They store excess power that is not transported to households.

They are called upon when power generators do not produce enough electricity, thus ensuring the "lights are on" at all times.

This ensures reliable electricity supplies, making us fortunate to have one of the most stable and quality electricity supply networks in the world.

The supply rating of our two power companies has been maintained at 99.999 percent availability - equivalent to a downtime of 5.26 minutes per year - a record that exceeds most other cities in the world.

The challenge for Hong Kong and elsewhere is whether we can maintain this high level of reliability as we transition to renewable energy.