Integrating Batteries in Renewable Energy Systems, the Dilemma
This note briefly discusses some aspects related to the genuine role of electric batteries in renewable energy (RE) systems as compared to the one sought by industry and facile business. It tackles some of the misconceptions of RE technologies and their impacts on the role of constitutive elements of RE systems, e.g., the storage concept and storage medium (here the battery). The misconceptions seem to drift the technology development from the correct path, towards technologies that are rather more suited to short term profitable business. The reasons of the drift are outside the scope of this discussion. But in general, one can say that the origin is mostly the conservative view of many technologists whom remain attached to the old technologies of large power plants, energy transport, and energy distribution. These, in my opinion, are leading RE to an uncertain path, and as such, could be fatal for the future of these nascent technologies.
