What is battery storage?

Battery energy storage systems are made up of thousands of individual lithium-ion battery cells, which are grouped into modules and installed on racks and located inside a secure building. The buildings and additional outdoor facilities also contain inverters, which change the power back and forth from alternating current and direct current, as well as HVAC and safety and monitoring equipment. The energy flows between the batteries, a project substation, a generation tie-line, and the rest of the grid.

Typically, a stand-alone battery energy storage system connects to the wider grid at an electric substation, and not directly to another generation source or to a single customer. The electricity used to charge the batteries is generated by other power plants that inject electricity into the grid. The batteries charge when there is extra power available on the grid, like overnight, and especially when customers do not need or cannot get that power, due to transmission limitations. When the batteries discharge or put power back onto the grid, it is delivered to customers using power at that time, especially at times of peak customer use. The batteries discharge when customers need power most, like on hot days when the air conditioning is running or during winter cold snaps when customers need enough power for heating.

For more information on battery energy storage, please visit the EPA site on battery storage.

A battery storage facility provides increased energy capacity, peak shaving, voltage support, and frequency regulation—all of this means that a battery storage facility has the power and unique characteristics to make the grid perform better, by providing all those different supporting functions. Energy storage may defer the need for ratepayers to fund new transmission and generation infrastructure. Battery energy storage facilities can operate like gas peaker plants but in a much cleaner way, providing zero emissions when generating and reducing the need for new oil and gas plants and reducing emissions from these facilities.

Once construction is completed and the facility is operational, there will be very little activity at the facility. One or two employees will likely visit the facility daily to ensure smooth operations and inspect the equipment, run diagnostic checks, and groom vegetation. The facility is additionally remotely operated and monitored through state-of-the-art technology that communicates with the batteries, alarms, and fire suppression systems.

After construction, you can expect reduced traffic relative to the operation of the oil terminal, and no observable increase in dust, glare, waste, or water use. No regular nighttime lighting is anticipated. Operations will comply with all Town of Oyster Bay ordinances and regulations.