Battery Storage
Store. Save. Sustain. – The Future of Energy Storage.
What it is
Battery storage refers to the technology that allows for the storage of electrical energy in a chemical form within a battery system, which can be converted back to electrical energy when needed. This technology is crucial for both residential and commercial applications, as it enables the storage of excess electricity generated from renewable sources, like solar panels, during periods of high production (such as daytime) for use during periods of low production or higher demand (such as nighttime or cloudy days).
Battery storage plays a pivotal role in the transition to renewable energy by mitigating the intermittent nature of sources like solar and wind. It ensures a consistent and reliable supply of electricity, even when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing. Additionally, it supports grid stability by providing services such as peak shaving, load shifting, and frequency regulation.
With over 1,200,000 domestic and commercial solar installations in the UK and soaring electricity costs, interest in maximizing self-use of our own free solar electricity is growing rapidly. Battery storage has also leapt forward through electric cars, commercial and home battery storage systems playing their key role in maximising local self-use and Grid balancing. Energy companies have accepted that Grid energy management needs storage when we have intermittent solar and wind power now providing over 40% of UK electricity generation.
We also see our cars and homes turning to electricity with 2.3M electric vehicles in the UK (June 2023) and our homes being encouraged to become electrically heated with the use of Heat Pumps. This logical progression is at last part of the Government’s Energy Strategy to wean us off fossil fuels. This approach has been the bedrock of Carbon Legacy’s objectives for the last 15 years. We have many examples of all electric Super Low Energy homes with measured results of 90% reductions in their energy bills from home solar generation and battery storage. Key to this has been the introduction of the Tesla Powerwall 2 home battery with its world leading reliability and software control.
With nearly 600,000 already installed across the World the Powerwall’s proven ability to be remotely managed by power companies such as Octopus Energy to “Grid Trade” solar power into the wholesale energy market. This turns the PV/home battery system into a mini power station that is both a financially attractive investment and provide protection against rising energy costs. We expect to see more innovative arrangements come to the market this year including the rumoured Tesla Electric power company.
We have revised our range to fit with both existing and new solar PV systems matched to the latest battery management and charger equipment from Tesla, Qcells and Dyness. Follow the links on this page to read more about Hybrid PV inverters, bolt on Battery management/charger systems and then contact us for a tailored solution for your home or building. Please remember it takes careful design, sizing, and selection of equipment to ensure you get a robust and reliable storage solution that will maximise your self-use of free solar electricity. Be wary of cheap batteries not designed for daily cycles of charging/ discharging with poor temperature control as this will lead to premature failure of your storage system.
Our Suppliers and Products
Tesla
The Tesla Powerwall 2 is a sleek, rechargeable lithium-ion battery designed for home energy storage. It features a modern, minimalist design with a smooth, white rectangular exterior, making it easily mountable on a wall or the ground, indoors or outdoors. The unit measures 115 cm in height, 75.5 cm in width, and has a depth of 15.5 cm, and it weighs approximately 114 kg. The Powerwall 2 has a storage capacity of 13.5 kWh, with a 5 kW continuous power supply and a peak of 7 kW. It’s engineered for efficiency and reliability, providing backup power during outages and the ability to store electricity generated from solar panels for use any time.
- Increased Energy Independence: Store solar energy or low-cost electricity to use during peak times, reducing reliance on the grid.
- Backup Power: Automatically switches to battery power in the event of an electric company outage, keeping your lights on and appliances running.
- Seamless Integration: Works with any solar panel system, not just Tesla’s, and can be monitored and controlled with the Tesla app for real-time energy management.
- Self-Powered Home: Ability to run your home off solar and battery power, significantly reducing your electricity bill.
- Future Proof: Over-the-air software updates improve functionality and efficiency over time, without needing to physically upgrade the unit.
Q-Cells
The Qcells Q.HOME H4 with DC-coupled hybrid inverter and 6.8 kWh batteries is a cutting-edge solution for residential solar energy storage. This system integrates seamlessly with your solar panel setup, enhancing energy efficiency by directly storing DC electricity produced by the panels into the batteries, without the need for conversion to AC. This reduces energy loss and increases the overall efficiency of the system. The compact and sleek design of the hybrid inverter and battery units allows for easy installation and integration into various home environments.
- DC-Coupled System: Direct storage of solar energy as DC minimizes conversion losses, making it more efficient than AC-coupled systems.
- Scalable Storage: The 6.8 kWh battery modules can be stacked to increase storage capacity, catering to the energy needs of a wide range of households.
- Enhanced Energy Independence: Provides reliable backup power during outages and maximizes self-consumption of solar energy, reducing reliance on the grid and lowering electricity bills.
- Intelligent Energy Management: Features smart software that optimizes the use of solar energy, battery storage, and grid electricity based on real-time data and usage patterns.
- Durable and Reliable: Built with high-quality materials, ensuring a long service life and consistent performance under various conditions.
- Eco-Friendly Solution: Supports a sustainable lifestyle by maximizing the use of renewable energy, contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions.
Dyness
The Dyness F-7.5kWh Powerbox, when paired with a Solis Hybrid Inverter of 3, 4, 5, or 6 kW capacity, offers a robust and versatile solar energy storage solution suitable for residential use. This combination brings together the high-capacity storage of the Dyness Powerbox with the efficiency and flexibility of Solis Hybrid Inverters, enabling homeowners to optimize their solar energy usage, increase energy independence, and reduce electricity costs.
- Flexible Capacity: The Dyness F-7.5kWh Powerbox provides a substantial energy storage capacity, which, when combined with Solis Hybrid Inverters, can be tailored to match the energy demand of the household by choosing the appropriate inverter size (3, 4, 5, or 6 kW).
- High Efficiency: The Solis Hybrid Inverter’s capability to directly convert and store DC energy into the battery minimizes conversion losses, enhancing overall system efficiency.
- Scalable Solution: Both the Dyness Powerbox and Solis Inverter are designed for easy scalability, allowing homeowners to expand their system as their energy needs grow.
- Energy Independence: This system enables households to store excess solar energy for use during peak hours or power outages, significantly reducing reliance on the grid and providing backup power when needed.
- Smart Management: Integrated smart technology allows for real-time monitoring and management of energy production, storage, and consumption, optimizing for energy savings and efficiency.
- Eco-Friendly Energy: By maximizing the use of solar power, this system contributes to reducing carbon footprint and supports sustainable living practices.
Pairing a Dyness F-10kWh Powerbox with a Solis Hybrid Inverter of 3, 4, 5, or 6 kW capacity creates a powerful and efficient solar energy storage solution ideal for residential settings. This combination leverages the larger storage capacity of the Dyness Powerbox with the adaptable and efficient Solis Hybrid Inverters, enabling households to significantly enhance their solar energy utilization, achieve greater energy independence, and enjoy savings on electricity costs.
- Enhanced Storage Capacity: The Dyness F-10kWh Powerbox offers a generous energy storage capacity to support homes in maximizing their solar energy use, especially during peak usage times or in power outages.
- Optimized Energy Efficiency: The Solis Hybrid Inverter ensures minimal energy loss by efficiently converting and storing DC energy directly from solar panels into the battery, boosting the overall system efficiency.
- Customizable System: With the option to choose from 3, 4, 5, or 6 kW Solis Hybrid Inverters, households can tailor the system’s output to precisely match their energy requirements, ensuring optimal performance.
- Scalability: The system is designed for easy expansion, allowing homeowners to increase their storage capacity or inverter power as their energy needs or solar panel array grows.
- Smart Energy Management: Advanced technology integrates with real-time monitoring and management tools, enabling users to optimize their energy production, storage, and consumption for maximum savings and efficiency.
- Sustainable Solution: Utilizing solar energy more effectively reduces reliance on fossil fuels, decreases electricity bills, and contributes to a lower carbon footprint, promoting environmental sustainability.
Need more info?
If you haven’t decided what battery storage solution best suites your needs, then pop in or give us a call. Our highly experienced GEA’s can give you as much information as you need to make the right choice for your circumstances.