Chapter 9 - Stationary applications. III. Lead-acid batteries for solar and wind energy storage

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the use of lead/acid batteries for energy storage in solar and wind autonomic systems. Lead/acid systems are used in telecommunications and UPS applications. Lead/acid batteries have good characteristics in terms of life, cost, power, and reliability. Their low cost makes them attractive. The relatively high weight of lead is not important for most stationary applications where the volumetric energy density has a higher priority, and therefore, the lead/acid battery is a suitable choice for solar and wind energy storage. The majority of solar power applications do not include connection to the electricity grid. A lead/acid battery energy storage system is usually needed. There has been a significant growth of the autonomic solar power and wind power markets. Consequently, the demand for batteries for such applications has been growing. There is a clear trend to use valve-regulated lead/acid batteries (VRLA) rather than the flooded types. Undercharging and sulfur ion are the major failure modes of the battery. Thus, there is a need for improved charging strategies in such applications.