From the Roof, to a Battery, to the Grid.
2008-10-30: GE Reinvents the Fridge: VP Kevin Nolan explains Peak hour energy demand is growing faster than total energy demand. It is imperative that we begin to shift some of the energy load from peak hours to other parts of the day — helping to avoid the need to build new power plants to meet the demand.
GE Durathon "NaMx" NaClFeNi battery tech. A type of "molten salt" battery. Prudent Energy Vanadium Redox flow battery tech. Sealed lead-acid (SLA) self-discharge of 1--3% per month dependent on type. US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) June 2009 study finds the potential for peak electricity demand reductions across the country is between 38 gigawatts (GW) and 188 GW, up to 20 percent of national peak demand, depending on how extensively demand response is applied. This can reduce the need to operate hundreds of power plants during peak times.
As of 2008--2009 the UK grid's balancing costs are of the order of £100k/MW/year, ie £1 per year for every 10W of firm-frequency-response deferrable load and that load on all year would cost maybe £13 on a typical domestic tariff (assume 15p/kWh). Toronto Hydro's peaksaver
scheme to peak-shave a/c and heating load for a one-off CAD50 incentive. TheWattSpot: ComEd (Commonwealth Edison) Residential Real-Time Pricing and automatic moderation of aircon demand in Illinois, US. We Energies (Wisconsin, USA) Energy Partners programme gives up to a $50 credit each summer if you allow the utility to interrupt your air conditioning between noon and 11 pm, May 15 to September 15 each year, if necessary. ($50 for up to six (6) continuous hours in a single day, $40 for up to four (4) continuous hours in a single day, $12 for up to 45 minutes off with 15 minutes on for up to eight (8) hours in a single day.) (UK) Find Local Sunpower Certified Installers. (Australia) Solar Battery Storage Comparison Table. (UK) Which solar battery is the best?.