Buffering Batteries: The Grid Enhancing Technology No One Calls A GET - CleanTechnica

The article discusses the role of buffering batteries as an underrecognized form of grid enhancing technology (GET) that differs from traditional GETs like dynamic line rating, power flow control, and advanced conductors. Unlike these technologies, which increase the instantaneous transmission capacity of power lines, buffering batteries do not raise the megawatt (MW) limit of transmission lines but instead shift energy through time. By storing surplus electricity during periods of congestion and releasing it when transmission capacity is available, batteries effectively increase the total energy transmitted over a day without exceeding the line’s MW rating at any moment. A key example is a solar plant producing more power than the transmission line can handle at peak times, leading to curtailment of excess energy. Adding a battery sized to absorb this surplus allows the energy to be saved and sent later, reducing waste and improving grid utilization. The economics of this approach have improved significantly due to steep declines in lithium-ion battery costs, making batteries competitive with traditional transmission upgrades, which are costly and time