Our demand for computer power, increased in recent years by social media, streaming media, and the rise of artificial intelligence, has also increased our demand for electricity. With today’s consumers online almost every waking hour, Americans require a steady supply of electrical power. When this power is interrupted, even briefly, it can throw things into chaos: schedules get disrupted, online systems get locked or reset, and any unsaved digital work is lost. Some systems in society cannot afford a disruption to electricity, especially those found in hospitals and schools.
We have battery energy storage to assist with maintaining a steady flow of power. These heavy-duty battery systems can provide reliable electricity on a temporary basis, similar to a backup generator system. If a generator system does exist, a battery backup can provide yet another layer of protection in the event of a power outage. In Kentucky, our growing demand for reliable electricity has been a boon for Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing, which is receiving a $712 million investment to expand its production of battery energy storage systems. The investment will create almost 1,600 tech jobs in Shelby County, Kentucky, for the subsidiary of e-Storage, a commercial and industrial provider of energy storage, including solar and battery power.
Battery Energy Storage Complements Computer Server Demand
Increased use of technology places stress on power grids. When faced with unexpected disruptions, such as bad weather reducing the effectiveness of solar cells, the power grid can benefit from this industrial-grade battery storage. As fewer grids have excess capacity due to rapid additions of power-hungry computer servers and other appliances and the increasing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs), battery backup systems become more valuable.
The Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing facility is expected to come online quickly because it is housed in an existing facility. One million square feet of factory space was found near Louisville, Kentucky, at the location of another clean energy project that was never completed. With this infrastructure already partially complete, e-Storage hopes to get new battery manufacturing up and running by 2026. Small-scale output should begin toward the end of 2025, helping municipalities and companies protect their power access in times of grid stress or failure.
Extreme Weather Events May Also Increase Battery Demand
On top of the additional demand for electricity, consumers and businesses have to contend with increasing threats to the electrical grid from extreme weather events. According to scientists, the world is experiencing increasing numbers of extreme weather events, ranging from heat waves to hurricanes, that can sap or damage power plants and electrical grids. As a result, there is a growing demand for power backup systems for homes, businesses, and even electrical grids themselves. After blizzards and hurricanes in recent years caused power outages in the United States, demand for home generators significantly increased.
With severe weather events likely to increase, Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing’s 1,600 new employees will have plenty of work to do crafting industrial-grade battery energy storage. When a storm threatens to cut off the power, battery energy storage systems can keep crucial systems running until the grid can be repaired.
Image credit: EnerVenue
