Battery storage for businesses: what should you consider?
Battery storage allows a business to store electrical energy for later use. Combined with an energy management system (EMS), it can reduce demand peaks and shift the use of solar power. The right system depends on the load profile, grid connection and operating priorities.
Start with the problem the battery needs to solve
A battery for brief demand peaks may need a different combination of power and capacity from one intended to supply critical operations during a longer outage. Agree on its primary purpose before comparing proposals.
Enfy combines battery storage with its own EMS, solar power and project engineering. This allows generation, storage and consumption to be assessed together. Market participation needs a separate assessment of technical requirements, prequalification and contracts.
- Demand peaks: when do they occur, how high are they and how long do they last?
- Solar power: when is there a surplus, and when does the building need energy?
- Backup: which loads must operate during an outage?
- Flexibility: how much capacity can be made available without compromising operations?
What is the difference between kW and kWh?
Power in kilowatts (kW) describes how quickly the battery can deliver or receive energy. Capacity in kilowatt-hours (kWh) describes the amount of energy. Both figures are needed to assess a system.
A simplified example: a 100 kW load running for two hours needs 200 kWh of delivered energy. That does not mean a battery rated at 200 kWh is sufficient. State of charge, losses, ageing, temperature and required reserve must be included in sizing.
How to prepare for an assessment
Collect data for a representative operating year, including seasonal variations and the busiest periods. Annual consumption alone does not reveal the battery power you need. Ask the proposal to distinguish measurements, assumptions and included work.
- Consumption data with enough detail to capture demand peaks.
- Grid tariff, available grid capacity and planned additional loads.
- Generation data or a forecast for the solar installation.
- Available space, installation conditions and service requirements.
- Priorities between daily operations, backup reserve and market participation.
See batteries and EMS in a real project context
Enfy’s Lundeby project description illustrates how solar power, batteries, EMS and building improvements can form one project. Projected results describe a specific system; they are not a promise of the same results for another building.
Ask for an assessment that separates the contribution of each measure. Solar generation, reduced heat loss and shifting electricity consumption perform different jobs, even when they affect the same energy bill.
Questions and answers
Does a business need solar panels to use a battery?
No. A battery can also charge from the grid and help smooth demand. Solar is one possible energy source. The need for storage should be assessed using consumption data and the intended application.
Does a battery automatically provide power during an outage?
No. Backup requires a system designed for that purpose, including a suitable inverter, protection, safe grid disconnection and control of priority loads. Also specify how much interruption the equipment can tolerate during transfer.
Can the same battery participate in reserve markets?
It may be possible, but the installation and market arrangement must meet applicable requirements. Capacity reserved for operations or backup cannot simultaneously be committed freely to the market.
Sources and further reading
Planning a system for a specific building or site? Bring consumption data and explain what you want to achieve so we can assess the next steps together.
Discuss your project with Enfy