The power grid requires a constant balance between energy supply and demand. When this balance is disrupted, the system can experience outages or inefficiencies. 

Batteries have become an essential tool for maintaining this balance by providing rapid energy deployment, enabling use of renewables, and making the grid operate more efficiently.

How batteries support the grid

Immediate energy supply

Batteries can supply energy instantaneously, unlike traditional power plants that require significant time to ramp up. For example, fossil fuel plants need to spin up turbines or ignite boilers, which can take hours. Nuclear plants can take an entire day to start operations.

Batteries, by contrast, can discharge energy immediately in response to demand surges. This rapid response capability makes them critical during moments of scarcity. When power is in high demand, such as during extreme weather events or sudden spikes in energy use, batteries can quickly deploy energy to the grid to help address the need. 

Market-driven response

The energy market uses real-time price signals to indicate supply shortages. When operating reserves decrease, prices rise, signaling the need for additional energy. In response, operators send commands to batteries, prompting them to discharge energy and help stabilize the grid, preventing disruptions.

In regions like Texas, where energy demand can fluctuate significantly, this ability to respond in real time has made grid-scale batteries a vital component of the energy infrastructure.

Filling supply gaps

Batteries are particularly effective at bridging short-term supply gaps. For example, during maintenance seasons in spring and fall, power plants may be offline, leaving fewer resources available to meet demand. Batteries step in to provide fast, reliable energy during these periods.

In addition, renewable energy sources like solar and wind, while cost-effective and sustainable, are intermittent by nature. Solar energy, for instance, generates electricity during the day but cannot control the timing or quantity of production. Batteries store excess solar energy and discharge it during peak demand periods, such as mornings and evenings.

You can see this in the graph below. The purple indicates energy that is being supplied by batteries to the grid. In moments of transition between solar energy and power plant energy (fossil fuels or nuclear energy), you can see that the grid relies on battery energy since it’s immediately available and easy to deploy. 

Seasonal and daily demand patterns

Energy demand follows predictable patterns, which batteries are uniquely positioned to address:

• Winter: Energy demand peaks in the morning and evening, primarily due to heating needs.
• Summer: Evening demand surges as cooling needs rise and solar power generation declines with the setting sun.

Batteries are designed to complement these patterns by charging during periods of low demand—typically midday, when solar energy production is highest—and discharging during peak demand times. This cycle not only alleviates strain on the grid but also ensures renewable energy is used effectively, creating a more sustainable and balanced energy ecosystem.

Benefits of distributed home battery systems like Base’s

Base's distributed home battery systems deliver critical localized support to the grid, benefiting both individuals and communities:

Local impact: Home batteries supply energy to nearby areas, reducing reliance on transmission infrastructure, improving delivery efficiency, and helping prevent localized outages.

Statewide stability: Distributed batteries add capacity to the grid during tight conditions, like extreme weather or high energy demand.

Base is the first company fully committed to distributed battery systems. Unlike traditional grid-scale batteries, our batteries are installed directly on homes, offering two key advantages:

• Exclusive backup power: During outages, your battery powers your home alone.
• Proximity to the grid: Batteries closer to where energy is consumed reduce delays and transportation costs.

While grid-scale batteries support large-scale energy management, they are often far from where energy is needed. Distributed batteries, by contrast, enable faster deployment, tailored strategies, and a decentralized, more efficient, and responsive energy resource.

To better understand the differences and similarities between Base batteries and grid-scale batteries, see our blog The catch: what makes Base different from other energy companies.