Are battery storage solutions a viable alternative to diesel generators?

Battery storage solutions are finally rounding the corner and becoming viable alternatives to diesel generators for data center backup power. Here’s a closer look at storage, as well as the role of biomass and hydropower, via Kohler Power. An illustration of the Tesla Megapack, which provides 3 megawatts of energy storage capacity. (Image: Tesla)

Is battery storage a viable alternative to generators?

Furthermore, it estimates that an additional 10,000 megawatts of large-scale battery storage will become operational by 2023. Battery storage is now considered a viable alternative to generators on a short-term basis. Doubts exist, however, about how well the technology can perform in a long-term outage scenario.

Why is Google using large batteries to replace diesel generators?

Google is using large batteries to replace the diesel generators at one of its data centers in Belgium. The cost of grid-scale battery farms is coming down rapidly. The U.S. EIA estimates that project costs declined by 72% from 2015 to 2019.

Which data center technology companies are using Tesla megapacks?

Data center technology company Switch has said it will use Tesla Megapacks to support more than 800-megawatt hours of storage capacity in its Nevada data center campuses. Google is using large batteries to replace the diesel generators at one of its data centers in Belgium. The cost of grid-scale battery farms is coming down rapidly.

Will biomass become a major alternative energy source for data centers?

Biomass is also considered one of the more expensive alternative energy sources. Bottom line: This is not likely to become a major alternative energy source for data centers in the foreseeable future. Hydropower accounted for 7.3% of total utility-scale power in the U.S. in 2020 and 37% of renewable electricity generation.

What's new in data center technology?

Two major recent developments are important: Data center technology company Switch has said it will use Tesla Megapacks to support more than 800-megawatt hours of storage capacity in its Nevada data center campuses. Google is using large batteries to replace the diesel generators at one of its data centers in Belgium.