Second Opportunity to Take Public Workshop on Battery Storage Basics Available
Flyer for the free Battery Storage Basics Workshop on February 25th
This is a press release from RCEA, the Redwood Coast Energy Authority:
RCEA repeats popular presentation to accommodate an overcapacity turnout
The Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) will again present its public workshop on battery storage systems on Tuesday, Feb. 25, from 5:30-7:00 p.m., at the Wharfinger Building, 1 Marina Way, in Eureka (a new location). Reservations are recommended, but there is no cost to attend.
The one-and-a-half-hour event and larger space will allow for more time for Q&A and visiting with battery and solar installers.
RCEA Project Manager Mike Avcollie will be the lead presenter, and Account Services Manager Mahayla Slackerelli will provide a brief RCEA solar update.The February 5th workshop was standing room only [photo submitted]
Since the recent Public Safety Power Shutoffs, Humboldt County residents have been asking how they can make their homes and businesses more energy resilient, how they can utilize the electricity from their solar panels when the grid is down, and where to start when investing in a battery storage system. This workshop will address these questions, and staff will be available for individual questions after the presentation.
Next month, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is set to roll out changes to its battery storage incentives through the Self Generation Incentive Program (SGIP). These changes will focus on storage for microgrids and simpler emergency back-up systems, especially for lower-income customers and customers with critical resiliency needs. Qualified low-income residential customers will be able to apply for the new incentives by March 1, 2020 and commercial/industrial/government customers by April 1, 2020.
RCEA’s solar programs support locally produced, sustainable electricity and pave the way for battery storage opportunities. Details on the following programs and projects can also be found on RCEA’s website:
- Net Energy Metering for residential and commercial solar customers
- Feed-In Tariff Program for new, local renewable generation projects under 1 MW (megawatt)
- Local Public Agency Solar Program helps agencies access funding for solar arrays and battery storage
- Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid, featuring a 2.25 MW solar array with battery storage
The Battery Storage Basics workshops are the first in the RePower Hour series designed to answer Humboldt County’s critical energy questions. Refreshments will be provided. For more information and to RSVP, please contact RCEA at (707) 269-1700 or email [email protected].
ABOUT RCEA:
The Redwood Coast Energy Authority is a local government joint powers agency whose members include the County of Humboldt, all local cities, and the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District. The Energy Authority’s purpose is to develop and implement sustainable energy initiatives that reduce energy demand, increase energy efficiency, and advance the use of clean, efficient and renewable resources available in the region.
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Batteries are still the weak link in any stand-alone power system. Comparing dollars to dollars you get much bang for buck with something like a Honda EU2200 than installing a massive battery bank.
A 320 amp hour 6vdc battery (pb acid) runs about $270. You’ll need 4 to run a decent inverter (24Vvdc and a lot of inverters are 48vdc requiring 8 batteries) and have some storage(@24v that’s 7.68 kwh)… that’s more than an EU2200 and doesn’t give you the electricity return.
Tesla and other li-ion batteries are much more expensive.
That said, if you bother with PV it is worth the extra expense to have batteries for a stand alone system and, if you have an electric car, you already have a battery bank from which electricity can be drawn.