Simplified animation. Actual equipment, connections and layouts vary by project.
Take electricity in.
Charging from the grid and storing electricity for later use.
Electricity passes through the switchgear and transformer. The inverter converts alternating current (AC) from the grid into direct current (DC) for the battery.
Keep energy ready.
The battery stores energy for later use. Monitoring and control systems manage the equipment and operating conditions.
Charging and delivery are scheduled around grid needs and the system’s operating limits.
Send electricity back.
When electricity is needed, the process reverses. The inverter converts the battery’s DC electricity into AC.
The transformer adjusts the voltage, and electricity passes through the switchgear back to the grid.
The main equipment
One connected system.
Switchgear
Controls and protects the electrical connection, allowing equipment to be isolated when needed.
Transformer
Adjusts voltage between the battery system and the local grid connection.
Inverter
Converts electricity between AC and DC so the battery can charge and discharge.
Battery
Stores energy in rechargeable cells housed within a managed enclosure.
Why it matters
Support when
the grid needs it.
Battery storage can absorb electricity when it is available and deliver it during periods of higher demand. It can also respond quickly to help balance supply and demand.
The services a particular project provides depend on its design, utility connection and operating arrangements.
Common questions
Battery storage, put simply.
Think of it as a large rechargeable battery connected to the electricity network. It charges, stores energy and sends electricity back when it is needed.
Does it make its own electricity?
No. Like the battery in your phone, it needs to be charged first. It takes electricity from the grid, which is the network of power lines that serves homes and businesses, and stores that energy for later. Some energy is lost during charging and use.
Why store electricity for later?
People use different amounts of electricity throughout the day. A battery can charge when electricity is available and send it back when more is needed. This helps the grid keep up during busy periods, when homes and businesses are using more power.
How long does a charge last?
It depends on the size of the battery, how fully charged it is and how much electricity it is supplying. Think of water in a tank: a larger tank holds more, and opening the tap wider empties it faster. The same idea applies to battery storage.
Further reading: U.S. Energy Information Administration · U.S. Department of Energy
Questions about a project?
We welcome conversations with landowners and communities.
Battery storage, explained
How battery energy
storage works.
Charge from the grid. Store electricity. Deliver it when it is needed.
A battery energy storage system shifts electricity from one time to another, helping the grid respond as demand and supply change.