Lead acid batteries don't much like being cycled heavily. Even the ones explicitly designed for it (the average car battery is not) have about a tenth of the lifespan of lithium ion.

LiFePO4 is probably the chemistry best suited to it ATM. Lasts a long time, more stable, pretty cheap, and just a bit less energy density than other lithium ion options. Sodium-ion is looking promising but only just entering the market AFAIK.

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ElevenLathe 14 hours ago | parent [-]

Does this mean LA would be a feasible option for longer-cycle storage, IOW keeping a reserve topped up most of the year for those duldrums weeks with little solar or wind?

	▲	adgjlsfhk1 4 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		For long term storage, the right batteries don't exist yet (commercially). The good options are going to be one of sodium ion, flow batteries, or thermal batteries.
	▲	Schiendelman 4 hours ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		In addition to the fact that it doesn't really work better for that either, it's just not as safe as lithium iron phosphate.
	▲	rcxdude 13 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		I think it still loses out to lithium-ion on cost/kWh, and batteries in general are still a bit expensive for storage on the timescale of months.