Balancing the electrical grid in unexpected situations
A power plant using containers with second-life EV batteries could have helped avoid today's power outages in Spain and Portugal by:
- Frequency and Voltage Stabilization
- Batteries can instantly (within milliseconds) deliver or absorb electricity.
- When grid oscillations occur (as they did today), battery systems can quickly smooth out fluctuations, prevent grid failure, and give operators time to rebalance the system.
- Black Start Support
- If the entire grid collapses, a power source is needed that can start conventional plants (thermal, hydro) from scratch.
- Battery power plants can act as black start solutions by immediately supplying electricity needed to start large generators.
- Microgrids for Critical Infrastructure
- In a full grid collapse, battery containers can maintain local operation of hospitals, communication hubs, traffic control, etc., until the broader grid is restored.
- Rapid Deployment and Flexibility
- Containerized battery systems can be quickly relocated and installed wherever emergency support is needed.
How many containers would be required?
- A typical container using second-life batteries (e.g., from Tesla Model S/X) can have 1–2 MWh capacity.
- Large battery power plants have capacities of 100–250 MW and 200–500 MWh.
To stabilize a national grid during a major disturbance, you'd need:
- 200–400 MW instantaneous power,
- and at least 400–800 MWh capacity to sustain delivery for 1–2 hours.
Calculation:
- One container = ~1.5 MWh (average)
- For 600 MWh → approximately 400 containers
Conclusion:
- Serious national support (e.g., Spain or Portugal) needs around 300–500 containers.
- Local stabilization (e.g., Madrid or an industrial zone) could use 50–100 containers.
Note:
- Second-life EV batteries retain around 70–80% of original capacity.
- Their performance and lifespan are reduced, so oversizing is required for long-term reliability.