Stationary battery storage solutions, sometimes referred to as Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), are systems designed to store electrical energy. These systems serve a variety of energy optimization purposes, ultimately improving the quality, reliability and affordability of electricity.
Stationary battery storage solutions can be used in a variety of applications within the residential, commercial and industrial, and utility segments.
Residential: Residential customers typically use battery storage to reduce their electric bill by shifting grid energy consumption from on-peak to off-peak hours. Battery storage may also make residential solar installations viable in areas without net metering.
Commercial and Industrial: Commercial and industrial customers typically use battery storage to shave their peak energy demand, which typically comes at a premium from the Utility providers. Stored energy is released to keep the demand on the Utility at or below a set point. The storage system recharges either when demand falls below that set point or during off-peak hours.
Utility: Utilities apply battery storage to reduce congestion on transmission and distribution lines and mitigate the need to upgrade them. Independent power producers may also use battery storage to increase the value of an intermittent renewable generation asset, by guaranteeing specific capacity at certain times of the day (‘capacity firming’). Because of their ability to both provide and absorb power in seconds, battery storage solutions have become very valuable to the grid operators, enabling better grid resiliency.
Several battery technologies exist, which include Lithium-ion, Lead-acid, Sodium-Sulfur, Zinc-based and Vanadium-Redox. Depending on the technology used, the battery storage system will perform differently in terms of capacity, response time, discharge time and depth of discharge.
To qualify for inclusion in the battery storage category, a system must:
- Encompass all products required to store and discharge energy: battery, inverter, transformer, switchgear, and a control system
