Home Battery Storage Without Solar – What To Look For
The ability to “store” the energy produced from renewable sources is one of the most significant fronts in the smart evolution of the distribution network. Indeed, one of the great limitations of electricity is the difficulty of accumulating it. Unlike other resources or products, it is not possible to produce electricity and store it, but there must be a balance between energy consumption and production at all times. Home battery storage UK without solar allows energy to be converted into an accumulable form, stored in this form, and then reconverted, solving the problem of storing energy.
The uncertainty and discontinuity of energy sources, such as wind and solar power, and their extreme fragmentation in small power plants, are factors that complicate their integration into the grid. To absorb the energy generated by these numerous plants (there are now millions in Europe, mainly photovoltaic), allowing for further development, it is necessary both to strengthen the network and to conceptually modify it and renew it technologically. But that’s not enough. To make full use of renewable generation, which by its nature is typically non-programmable, it is also necessary to provide adequate storage capacity. In fact, it may happen, for example, those wind farms reach their maximum production at night when demand is scarce or when there are strong intermittences in generation (gust wind), such as complicating the work of balancing consumption and generation.
The topic of energy storage is, therefore, of crucial importance taking into account energy sustainability and will probably be even more so in the future. The ability to increase the flexibility of the electricity system, in fact, depends on the effectiveness of storage systems. Furthermore, GSL Energy All-in-One Home Battery Storage can also play an essential role in reducing costly interventions of other types on the networks, which would otherwise be necessary to adapt the system to the growing levels of renewable production. Thus, the concept of a utility electrical energy storage system is being defined, i.e., a storage plant as a component of the network, which the operator can adopt when the most convenient solution for operating the network itself or to address specific critical issues, whether they are connected to the integration of renewables or to something else.
Thus, it is necessary to implement increasingly efficient storage systems capable of storing the electricity produced when it is most convenient or when there is an abundance of renewable sources – mainly wind and photovoltaic – to use it when needed.
A Battery Energy Storage System
A battery energy storage system (also called BESS) is an advanced technological option that allows you to store energy in multiple ways for later use. The benefits of battery energy storage include energy efficiency, savings, and sustainability through reduced consumption. As the energy supply can fluctuate due to weather, blackouts, or geopolitical reasons, battery systems are essential for businesses and homes to obtain a continuous flow of energy. Energy storage facilities are no longer an addition or an afterthought.
Battery energy storage is especially effective if combined with solar energy since solar energy storage mitigates the intermittent nature of renewable energy and ensures a constant supply of electricity. In a solar energy storage facility, the batteries charge during the day and release energy when the sun is not very active. Modern battery storages for a home or business solar power system usually include a built-in inverter to change the DC power generated by the solar panels into the AC power needed to power household appliances or equipment. Solar batteries work with an energy management system that manages charge and discharge cycles based on needs and real-time availability.
What Are The Main Applications of Battery Storage?
Battery storage can be applied in many ways beyond just emergency backup in the event of a power shortage or blackout. Applications vary depending on whether the storage is used for a business or a home.
For commercial and industrial users, the applications are manifold:
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Ability to control and manage energy demand to avoid a sudden short-term consumption peak;
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Load shifting, which allows businesses to shift energy consumption from one period to another, drawing on the battery when energy costs the most;
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Flexibility, which allows customers to reduce their site’s network demand at critical times without changing their electricity consumption. Energy storage, therefore, makes it much easier to participate in a demand response program and save on energy costs.
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Microgrids rely on batteries as the main component since these grids need to store energy in order to be able to disconnect from the main grid when needed.
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Integration with different renewable energy sources, since batteries, guarantee a regular and continuous flow of electricity in the absence of energy availability from renewable sources.
The benefits of battery storage for residential customers include:
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Self-consumption, as residential users can produce solar energy during the day and then run home appliances at night;
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Emergency backup in case of a blackout;
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Going off the grid, i.e., detaching completely from a power company or energy supply service.
So what are the advantages of battery energy storage? The general benefit of battery storage facilities is that renewable energy becomes more reliable and, therefore, more profitable. The supply of solar and wind energy can be subject to fluctuations, so battery storage systems are essential to “smooth out” this flow and give a continuous supply of energy when it is needed, 24 hours a day, regardless of whether the wind blows or the sun shines. In addition to the clear environmental benefits of battery storage systems due to their important role in the energy transition, energy battery storage can help its users save costs by storing free or low-cost energy and providing it during peak periods when electricity tariffs are higher.
How Does a Battery Energy Storage System Work?
The operating principle of a Battery Energy Storage Facility (BESS) is simple. Batteries receive electricity from the grid, directly from the power station or a renewable energy source such as solar panels or another energy source, and then store it in safety, and release it when needed.
In case combined with software, a BESS becomes a platform that matches the energy storage capacity of batteries with the intelligence needed to provide advanced energy management leveraging artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data-driven solutions. This means that batteries are a tool in the fight against climate change because they allow for more flexible energy use, allowing the user to adapt to dips and peaks in supply and demand. Overall, battery energy storage plants favour the diffusion of renewable sources, thus helping to reduce carbon emissions and even costs for businesses and households.
Modern battery storage can meet all energy needs, both when a facility already has a battery storage facility or needs to install a new one, or needs to add more capacity. The battery storage facility is also usually equipped with optimization software, which has been designed to work with all types of distributed energy resources and can be easily integrated into existing systems, such as solar PV plants.
What Are The Different Characteristics of Battery Energy Storage?
A battery energy storage facility (BESS) can be of two kinds: front-of-the-meter (FTM) or behind-the-meter (BTM). BTM systems are installed on-site and are typically smaller than an FTM system. The main function of a BTM is to improve the stability of the owner’s energy supply and reduce costs, but if the local regulatory framework permits, batteries can also supply energy to the grid, thus becoming an additional revenue stream. Larger FTM systems are connected directly to the electricity grid and are usually owned by a utility company, helping them solve grid congestion problems or as an alternative to creating new power lines.
How Long Does Battery Energy Storage Last, And How Can It Have a Second Life?
Most battery energy storage systems have a life span of between 5 and 15 years. As part of the ecological solutions for the energy transition, battery storage facilities are tools to enable sustainability and, at the same time, must themselves be fully sustainable. The reuse of batteries and the recycling of the materials that make them up at the end of their life are objectives of all-around sustainability and an effective application of the principles of the Circular Economy. Recovering an increasing amount of materials from batteries and giving them a second life brings environmental benefits, both in the extraction and disposal phases. Reusing batteries also has economic benefits.
How to Best Store a Lithium Battery
Storing lithium batteries correctly brings advantages in terms of safety, performance, and life span. Today we explain how.
A lithium battery is a product designed for safe use and a lifespan of several years. Batteries with LiFePO4 technology are the best choice available on the market and have an estimated average life of about 7-8 years. However, it is an estimate whose value can change considerably depending on its characteristics, its use made, and how it is kept.
To maintain the performance of a battery for as long as possible, it is advisable to use them as per the User Manual. Still, a very important aspect (both for the performance and for the safety of a lithium battery) is that of storage. Here we have already talked about the safety of lithium-ion batteries, and now we will talk more about the storage of a battery.
