One of the largest obstacles to the viability of renewable energy, like wind and solar power, is the process of storing and transporting the power once the energy's been converted to electricity.http://www.ted.com/talks/donald_sad...ble_energy

http://www.upi.com/Science_News/201...415980994/

Ambrii & Aquion have other low-cost technology competitors too, though they're both on my short list of grid-battery startups likely to get a real market share.

It's not true that you need a lot of battery to make renewables viable, though that's a common misconception. That said, the grid-storage market recently opened up in California is red hot. Despite only being required by the regulatory bodies to come up with 50MW of grid storage the folks in southern California opted to buy 250 MW (on both sides of the meter, including thermal storage for some of the ratepayers' side storage) since it's so much cheaper than paying for low capacacity factor combined cycle gas.

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/breaking-sce-announces-winners-of-energy-storage-contracts

Looks like they are adding ~90% non-storage power (mostly gas) - probably because it's cheaper.

Even so, I expect that local ice storage + solar has good potential for hot climates.

http://www.theverge.com/2015/2/11/8023443/tesla-home-consumer-battery-elon-musk

http://www.technologyreview.com/review/534866/why-we-dont-have-battery-breakthroughs/

How much energy Tesla battery will store from harvesting surface like a solar cell window ? I am thinking to install solar windows in my house Upstate New York?

Well the Tesla powerwall site says each battery bank will store 6.4KWH, but the real question is how much energy will a bank of solar windows really produce at your exact location. Pretty difficult to take a guess at. I have not looked much into solar windows. I guess they may have their place, but a vertically oriented panel recessed into a hole in the wall of your house does not sound like the ideal location for a solar collector. IE: You can produce the same amount of energy from a far smaller collector properly aligned on your roof...

You can actually produce a good amount of power from a vertical panel facing south...this is what makes passive solar heating work well. However, I am not convinced why one would want to further complicate window selection...and windows should always be aggressively minimized in energy efficient buildings anyhow... If one uses south facing windows for passive solar heating, one also typically uses a large roof overhang or some other means to provide full window shading during the hot summer months which would totally negate solar power generation then. Roof collectors are the way to go when one is limited by a small lot size. Ground collectors are the way to go when you have acreage because of ease of both panel and roof maintenance. And onsite micro solar power generation is a joke in comparison to onsite micro hydro power generation when you have both acreage and a suitable stream. Anyhow, anything that will bury and make all fossil fuels extinct again ASAP, makes me happy!

Any new developments for onsite storage in 2016?

Posted By Dana1 on 24 Nov 2014 03:10 PM

It's not true that you need a lot of battery to make renewables viable, though that's a common misconception.

Good point, although it is a necessity for some markets (i.e. off-grid cabins) that aim for complete self-sufficiency. Better batteries should help to expand solar tech's reach.

latest thing in uk is the sunamp heat batteries --getting very popular with the PV men --also ashp or solar thermal pump can charge it up as well --very interesting tech and will become std instead of dhw tank as prices fall more and more have excess pv production
https://www.sunamp.com/

very suprised no one has commented on this even if its negative --my guess not got to you guys yet
designed and made in scotland!!-but not by me --no conection with --wish it had been
If building new home using this with ashp it means no need for dhw tank and a big heat store looses heat all the time+costs about the same --these don,t loose nothing when charged up . you can also use solar thermal or anything to charge it up
you could even use a small one in your motor home and charge it up with solar .
I am guessing no dealers in US YET
an opening for someone over there