Moss Landing: Echoes of a Burning Dream

Pathetic fallacy is a literary device that gives human emotions to non-human things, such as animals, objects, or the weather

In the afternoon hours of January 16, flames consumed California’s Moss Landing Battery Plant, illuminating more than just the Monterey skyline. Instead, the fire revealed the volatility of a possible American future, one tethered rather precariously to grid-wide battery storage.

As if conjured from this tableau of chaos, Chris Wright’s appointment as Secretary of Energy evokes a sense of foreboding. Is he the challenge to the energy orthodoxy which is epitomised in the inferno at Moss Landing?

This moment, I believe, stands as a symbol, a fiery omen perhaps, that warns of the risks we face when we allow policy to outrun pragmatism.

Wright’s rise heralds the arrival of a disruptive force in energy policy, not in America alone, but globally. It is a deliberate unravelling of our reliance on lithium-ion batteries as the so-called “panacea” for renewable energy storage.

Instead, his vision outlines an alternate course. One where the needs of humanity are placed front and centre, an approach where the promotion of energy abundance and security trumps all. Without a doubt, his appointment signifies a turning point, fraught with opportunity and peril, perhaps serving to mirror the precarious balance upon which the energy grid itself sits.

Moss Landing

On January 16, the world’s largest battery storage facility suffered a catastrophic fire of frightening proportions. 300 megawatts of storage were decimated, leaving 1,200 residents displaced as they fled from the toxic chemicals which were spewed into the sky above.

Overnight, 2% of California’s energy storage was wiped out highlighting what I believe is the fragility of this technology. Yes, proponents may argue that this is a rare occurrence, but in my eyes, the implications run much deeper than any single event.

Lithium-ion batteries, despite their impressive energy density and efficiency are frankly fraught with energy risks. Fire outbreaks in these systems burn at unfathomably hot temperatures all while releasing “forever chemicals” into the atmosphere. Because of this, firefighters let these blazes burn themselves out rather than engaging with them directly, all one can do is sit and watch as millions of dollars go up in flames.

It is my belief that this incident serves as a reminder that no proposed energy solution is free from environmental risks. Those in opposition to energy sources such as oil and nuclear are often quick to point out cataclysmic incidents such as those at Texas City Oil Refinery and Fukushima, yet in the same breath, brush the very real dangers associated with large scale battery storage facilities under the rug. Inconsistent, isn’t it?

As Glenn Church, a Monterey County official, aptly put it, “This is really a lot more than a fire, it’s a wake-up call for this industry.”

Grid-Wide Battery Storage

While lithium-ion batteries can hold a place in energy storage, their limitations make me doubtful of their suitability as the foundation of a future energy grid.

Astronomical Costs

Achieving widespread adoption of battery storage on the scale required for the proposed renewable grid is, to put it bluntly, prohibitively expensive. The Clean Air Task Force estimates that California alone would need 36.3 million megawatt-hours of storage to hit the state’s 100% renewable energy goal, a far cry from its current 150,000 megawatt-hours of storage capacity. Furthermore, it is estimated that for a national grid, the costs would be upward of $2.5 trillion. This is unsustainable, particularly when we keep in mind that these are not one-off payments, instead, due to their lifespan of 10-15 years, the costs will rack up exponentially.

Limited Lifespan and Efficiency

Tying in with the previous point, lithium-ion batteries degrade over time. With each charge-discharge cycle, they lose more and more storage capacity. This situation would create the need for perpetual replacement and maintenance. Moreover, they are anything but well equipped for long duration energy storage which is imperative if governments want to address seasonal dips in renewable energy generation. Think about those winter months!

Environmental Risks

Fire hazards are only one side of the battery coin I’m afraid, as the mining and disposal of these batteries raise significant environmental, but also ethical concerns. The extraction of lithium, cobalt and nickel involves vast swathes of habitat destruction, water depletion and, in all too many cases, despicable exploitative labour practices. The end of life disposal of these batteries pose even greater challenges, especially when we consider the expected surge in demand as we near the end of this decade. Does this not undermine, at least to some degree, the promised environmental benefits of battery storage solutions?

It is my hope at least that these points have served as some food for thought in relation to this topic. It’s all too easy to assume that batteries are the clean, efficient method of energy storage that they are often portrayed as, however, when one delves deeper and separates themselves from the emotionally charged talking points, you will soon discover that no energy source has zero environmental impact, instead, it is a series of choices, with each option offering its own unique host of advantages and disadvantages.

Is Wright Right?

Chris Wright, a self-proclaimed “science geek” and energy entrepreneur has risen to prominence for his unconventional, yet undeniably pragmatic approach to energy policy. As the new Secretary of Energy, Wright sets forward a human-centric energy proposition, one which emphasises energy abundance, energy innovation and energy progress, a bold shift perhaps, from the idealistic yet flawed promise of lithium-ion grid storage.

Energy Abundance

Without energy, modern civilisation will frankly cease to be modern civilisation. In physics, energy is defined as the capacity to do work. Therefore, it follows that a society lacking in energy is unable to perform work. In contrast to previous administrations, Wright does not see energy as a liability, but the very foundation upon which a nation is built, it is the very pillar of progress. So, as Secretary of Energy, he has promised to expand energy production through nuclear, oil and gas to make energy reliable and affordable to the masses.

Energy Innovation

The West has fallen behind in the realm of scientific innovation and progress, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the realm of energy. Long gone is the age of the enlightenment where breakthroughs that enhanced the human condition were the measure by which a civilisation was assessed, instead, technological progress is perceived as nothing more than the parasitic affect of humanity on the world. Wright has committed to shifting this perspective to one that resembles that of an age long ago, where innovation was prized and progress was valued.

Energy Progress

In his own words “Federal policies today make it too easy to stop projects and very hard to start and complete projects. This makes energy more expensive and less reliable.” In an effort to combat this, Wright promises to drastically reduce the red tape stifling innovation and economic growth within the sector. No longer will the industry be held back by burdensome policies, but instead, be propelled forward into a new era of project development and completion.

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Wright’s approach stands in stark contrast to what is symbolised in the promise of lithium-ion battery storage, the holy grail of renewable energy policy. On the surface, I admit, it holds an attractive allure. It touts scalability and compatibility with wind and solar, all with seemingly minimal environmental impact. However, when one focuses in on the details, the cracks begin to show before the match is lit, and the once utopic vision comes crashing down revealing a future plagued by energy scarcity, unaffordability and unreliability.

Wright’s vision, which embraces a comprehensive approach, utilising all the available tools in the toolkit, prioritises abundance and security for the American people.

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A Shift in Energy Policy

The Moss Landing fire serves as a vivid reminder that the path to a sustainable energy future is neither simple nor is it linear. It demands a fundamental reevaluation of priorities and the courage to confront the uncomfortable truths. With Wright taking the helm, it seems as though any hopes of a grid-wide battery storage have too come crashing down in a blazing mess.

I hope that the pathetic fallacy was not lost on you, as the day after Chris Wright’s testimony before the Senate occurred, the news regarding the Moss Landing fire broke. Coincidence? I think not.

In this pivotal moment, the United States must choose wisely, for the consequences of missteps, whether that be economic, environmental or societal, will be felt for generations to come.

The question we must ask ourselves is this; Will we continue chasing this fragile, burning dream, or instead build a future that stands firm against the winds of change? The way in which we answer this question will not only define our energy systems, but the very trajectories of our nations.

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This article was written by David, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn to keep in touch