The City With the World’s Largest Lithium-Ion Battery

When it comes to energy storage, the city of Escondido grabs the headlines in the recent days. According to SDG&E, a San Diego-based energy company, their world’s largest lithium-ion battery has a capacity of 120 MWh could supply enough electricity to power 20,000 customers for four hours. Their 30 MW energy storage, built up in a partnership with AES Energy Storage, shall enhance regional energy reliability.

The World’s Largest Lithium-Ion Battery Stores Exceed Energy From Renewables

“San Diego County is a community of leadership and innovation, so it is only fitting that this community should receive the benefit of this unique project,” said Scott Drury, SDG&E’s president. “For more than a decade, SDG&E has been at the forefront to deliver results consistent with state and local clean energy and carbon emission goals. These projects affirm our commitment to deliver clean energy to customers and to provide a more reliable power supply to our electric grid when it is most needed.”

“SDG&E is a leader in providing clean, reliable power to their customers, and we’re honored that they chose Advancion energy storage to serve their needs,” said John Zahurancik, AES Energy Storage president. “These two projects, including the world’s largest advanced energy storage site, are the latest proof of energy storage’s capacity to scale up and solve our most pressing grid issues in a short period.”

Escondido, located in San Diego County’s North County region close to San Diego, USA, is now able to store exceed energy from renewables to a certain extent. Due to the unreliable nature of most renewable energy sources, the city with its roughly 144,000 inhabitants is now able to use the stored power from their world’s largest lithium-ion battery when the sun doesn’t shine.

Exactly 24 containers house 400,000 batteries in almost 20,000 modules. These lithium-ion batteries are also very common in electric cars, home electronics, or portable electronics. A high energy density, small memory effects in combination with a low self-discharge are the main reason for its popularity.