Huge battery storage system with solid-state accumulators connected to the power grid
Of course, the remarkably large electricity storage system was connected to the grid in eastern China, where new battery technologies and market-ready presentations are constantly being announced. Work on the grid connection was completed in June 2024. And even though there are already significant numbers of batteries installed in some power grids worldwide, the storage system from Kehua has a few special features.
With an installed output of 100 megawatts and a storage capacity of 200 megawatt hours, it is not just one of the very large battery storage systems. These are semi-solid-state accumulators, which have a whole range of useful properties. In addition, performance and capacity will be doubled in phase two of the project.
Only 7 wind turbines
The currently usable storage capacity would already be enough to absorb the overproduction of seven large 6-megawatt wind turbines. It doesn't sound like much, but the amount of electricity flexibly available could supply around 40,000 households. That's a big city, albeit a small one.
This takes into account 300 discharges per year. And this is exactly what the iron-phosphate solid-liquid hybrid cells are crucial for. They have a high energy density of 165 watt hours per kilogram. That's more than 1,200 tons of batteries.
But above all, according to the manufacturer, they function in the range from -20 to +60 °C (0 to 140 °F) and can be recharged 6,000 times. This would result in a service life of 20 years, which is roughly comparable to a wind turbine or solar cells. In addition, the batteries are less susceptible to fire and more stable than classic lithium-ion batteries. This also speaks in favor of installation within important infrastructure.
Unfortunately, there is no information on the price. Based on Tesla's Megapack, which can currently be purchased for just under 1 million euros each but will not be delivered until the end of 2025, the batteries alone would cost 50 million euros. Probably feasible for a small city.
