Hi there, Good News readers. We’re ready to bring you some positivity from around the world and get you ready for the weekend. From homicide rates drastically dropping in a city in Argentina to more than half a dozen new frog species recently discovered, here’s a bunch of satisfying stories to brighten your day.
🔋 US Power Grid Boosted With Incredible Battery Storage
🕵️♂️ Argentina’s Highest Crime Area Sees Decline In Murders
🐸 Seven New Frog Species Named After Star Trek Captains
♻️ New Bio-Plastic Degrades Faster In Water Than Paper Does
👩🦼 Revolutionary Wheelchair Designed With Better Steering
RENEWABLE ENERGY ♻️
US Power Grid Boosted With Incredible Battery Storage
Shutterstock
Battery storage is vital for constant clean energy supply
US went from zero storage capacity to 20 gigawatts
Current battery storage equivalent to 20 nuclear reactors
Expected to double in 2025 with further expansion
Wind and solar power is a great source of clean energy, but these technologies only generate power when the wind blows or the sun shines. That is why these green technologies need sufficient battery storage for the days when they can’t generate power at full capacity. The batteries are charged during wind and solar capture, and the energy stored inside these batteries can then be released to the power grid. The greater the battery storage capacity, the more electricity can be supplied, regardless of how much the wind blows or the sun shines. These batteries can also capture and store any excess power generated so it doesn’t go to waste, as neatly illustrated below.
ACE
In the last four years, the United States has installed more than 20 gigawatts of battery storage to the country’s electric grid. That is the equivalent of 20 nuclear reactors. The Energy Information Administration predicts that this incredible capacity will double to 40 gigawatts if all goes as planned for its 2025 expansion. This is a remarkable improvement when it comes to battery storage, as the graphic below shows that the US had all but zero utility-scale battery capacity a decade ago due to slow investment and political strategies.
Guardian graphic. Source: Energy Information Administration
California and Texas, two of the country’s biggest states, are leading this trend toward greater battery storage capabilities to feed the power grid. Both states have added more wind and solar power the past few years, and these batteries are helping to preserve that power and keep the lights on for millions of people. For California, especially, it’s been helpful in keeping power cuts and rationing at bay — methods often employed during their warm summer months. This year, those methods weren’t needed thanks to the investment in cleaner energy and enough batteries to harness and distribute electricity.
That’s it for this Friday! We hope this batch of Good News has made you as happy as a whistling frog. Have a great weekend, we’ll be back on Monday. 🌻
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