Batteries Take Heat Off Strained Electric Grid In Con Ed AC Experiment

When a heat wave hits New York City, many customers can soon expect a message from Con Ed, asking customers to conserve energy.

The reason is to protect the heat-strained electric grid, which, when taxed to the point of failure, can lead to blackouts and brownouts.

When demand for power is high, especially in the summer, fossil fuel-fired peaker plants kick in to meet that need. Those plants, often located in and around low-income neighborhoods, can be highly polluting and costly to rely on.

“By switching your AC to a battery rather than the outlet, you’re providing a measure of relief to the grid, avoiding more expensive, dirtier power plants turning on,” said Jamie Dickerson, senior director of climate and clean energy programs at Acadia Center, a research and advocacy nonprofit.

The small batteries in participants’ homes have served as a source of back-up power in other instances.

To read the full article from The City, click here.