Final November, the legislature handed an power invoice that, amongst different issues, requires a large build-out of enormous battery power storage techniques (BESS). We are actually seeing the wheels in movement as the primary necessities of this battery mandate come into play. The Division of Power Assets (DOER) is transferring to “facilitate” the fast deployment of billions of {dollars}’ value of grid battery initiatives. At a time when utility payments are already a prime concern for working households, it’s value noting that ratepayers will foot a lot of this invoice, although precisely how stays unclear. The essential premise that these batteries assist the choice power transition is fake. This bureaucrat-mandated program is a feel-good gesture that will probably be very costly and regionally harmful.
The deal itself is moderately unusual. The legislation says “…each distribution firm shall, in coordination with the division of power assets, collectively and competitively solicit proposals for power storage techniques…”
At first look, it feels like utilities are shopping for these big battery power storage techniques, however the nice print says in any other case. They don’t seem to be shopping for batteries, and even the electrical energy these batteries would possibly ship on this preliminary spherical. What they, and finally ratepayers, are literally shopping for are the so-called Renewable Power Certificates (RECs) these batteries will obtain once they output electrical energy. They could additionally purchase federal tax credit and different so-called “environmental attributes” underneath the legislation.
In different phrases, a part of the acquisition is solely subsidies. The concept is that this monetary assist will spur builders to construct an enormous quantity of storage in Massachusetts. Underneath the brand new legislation, the primary Request for Proposals, overlaying as much as 1,500 MW of BESS, was simply issued.
However the idea is essentially nonsensical. Wind and photo voltaic mills get RECs once they produce electrical energy, however batteries don’t produce energy, they solely retailer power (at a loss) that was generated someplace else.
There are two attainable methods these huge batteries and their RECs might function. Within the first, the saved electrical energy comes from fossil fuels. In that case, battery RECs would primarily be awarded for fossil-fueled power. In spite of everything, Massachusetts imports a lot of its electrical energy from fossil fuels. In 2023, Massachusetts generated slightly below 20 million MWh of electrical energy, 63% of it from pure gasoline, whereas consuming greater than 50 million MWh general. Meaning many of the battery enter electrical energy will probably be fossil-based.
However, if the batteries do retailer renewable power, these renewables have already obtained RECs. That quantities to double-counting. In neither case ought to battery output qualify for RECs that ratepayers should pay for.
The prices don’t cease there. Shopping for the environmental attributes doesn’t cowl the price of the precise BESS, it’s solely a stimulus cost. These batteries will nonetheless be operated as money-making initiatives, with homeowners anticipating full value restoration plus revenue. All of that may come from ratepayers.
The worth tag is staggering. The preliminary 1,500 MW alone will value many billions of {dollars}. These are 30-year buy contracts, but a typical BESS lasts solely about 10 years, which means full alternative prices, probably a number of instances, are inevitable. And that is solely the start: the brand new legislation mandates an unbelievable 5,000 MW of storage procurement over the following three years.
There may be additionally deep ambiguity that makes prices unpredictable. The legislation specifies MW (megawatts) of discharge capability, not storage capability, which is measured in MWh (megawatt hours). It permits a spread of 4 to 10 MWh of storage per MW of discharge. Meaning the 1,500 MW might characterize anyplace from 6,000 to fifteen,000 MWh of storage and value is set by MWh, since that dictates the quantity of chemical substances required. We could not know the true value till bids are in and contracts awarded.
Then comes the query of location. Each undertaking should have a website. The allowable measurement vary is 40 to 1,000 MW. In layman’s phrases, it ranges from very giant to monumental. The most important battery complicated within the nation at the moment is underneath 800 MW. Even a 40 MW undertaking would imply about 40 tractor-trailer sized battery containers. On the smaller finish, the state might see greater than three dozen such initiatives scattered throughout communities. And as cities are discovering, the brand new legislation makes it more durable for locals to cease them.
Security is one other main concern. Regardless of enhancements in know-how, container-sized batteries can burn or explode with out warning, with one incident triggering others in a series response. This phenomenon, known as thermal runaway, is harmful and tough to comprise. The well-known Moss Touchdown fireplace concerned simply 350 MW, but its flames might be seen for miles.
The RFP says little or no about security past generic “be protected” boilerplate. For instance, there aren’t any restrictions on putting huge battery complexes close to inhabitants facilities or weak infrastructure. This must be a critical consideration in undertaking choice.
General, this mandated battery program is dear, pointless, and regionally hazardous. It’s time for the legislature to place ratepayers first and go power coverage with their finest curiosity in thoughts, not feel-good bureaucratic experiments.
Laurie Belsito is Coverage Director at Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance
