Tesla recently did it to much acclaim, and now Daimler is doing it too – the German automotive corporation is launching its own home/business battery energy storage system. Developed by Daimler subsidiary Deutsche ACCUmotive, the Mercedes-Benz energy storage unit utilizes lithium-ion batteries to store energy generated by solar cells, wind turbines or other sources.
Utilizing technology that was originally developed for use in Mercedes and smart hybrid/electric cars, the battery modules will be available in two versions – a 2.5-kWh model for homes, and a 5.9-kWh model for industrial use. Up to eight 2.5 kWh modules can be linked together to form a 20 kWh energy storage unit for use by businesses.
The 5.9 kWh model is also scalable making it suitable for commercial and industrial use. In fact, as part of the Coulomb joint venture, project partners The Mobility House and GETEC Energie are using 96 of the modules to provide grid stabilization and to smooth out load peaks in the German town of Kamenz. The system currently has a combined capacity of over 500 kWh, and plans call for that to be boosted to 3,000 kWh within the next few weeks.
Daimler is now establishing sales and distribution networks, both in Germany and internationally. Mercedes-Benz energy storage units can be ordered starting this month, with shipping scheduled to begin in the fall (Northern Hemisphere). There is currently no word on pricing.
Source: Daimler via Green Car Reports
Bit like the depreciation on a Mercedes these days...
Mind you Lithium Ion battery might warm your garage in, shall we say, unexpected ways. Ask Boeing...
They don't want batteries to prevent seldom (2 hours / year?) power outages.
Get with it.
On the backend this means Utility companies have to have hundreds fossil fuel based energy production plants at the ready as millions of solar panels shut off at the same time as demand climbs. After only a 4 hour burst of demand many people head to sleep and several of the plants can be brought offline again.
Fossil fuel based production plants tend to be best suited to running 24/7 dealing with stable loads so the cost per kwh for a coal plant that only comes online to deal with a 4 hour load and be shut back down would be pretty high. Storage is the most suitable solution and right now lithium ion seems to show the most promise.