What does a grid connected battery do?
A grid-connected battery will store excess renewable energy for use when the sun is not shining, reducing a household or businesses reliance on the grid. Battery systems can also be used for Emergency Power Supplies (EPS) for when the grid experiences a blackout or brownout.
The graphs show two data sets.
The top graph illustrates the electricity demand profile of the home or business colour coded to illustrate the energy source. Direct Consumption (energy consumed directly from the PV system), Battery Discharging (energy consumed from the battery) External Energy supply (energy brought in from the grid)
The bottom graph illustrates where energy produced from the PV system unit is sent. This graph includes an extra colour code, Grid Feed-in, (the energy that can not be used to meet an energy load or charge the batteries is fed to the grid for a feed in credit.
Below is a single line diagram demonstrating a standard AC coupled energy system with battery backup.
What is the advantage?
The advantage of installing batteries is better use of the renewable energy. The different sorts of saving rates are Peak Self consumption and the feed in tariff.
Self consumption (energy consumed directly from the PV system) represents the largest savings as it usually results in savings equal to the client’s peak energy rate. (usually between $0.20c/kWh to $0.35c/kWh.
Feed in tariff (credits applied to the client’s bill for PV energy sold back to the grid) Currently there are two different minimum feed in tariff rates, “Single Rate” $0.9.9c/kWh and “Time-Varying” which consists of three rates, (shown below)
As of the first of July 2019, these rates will change to “Single Rate” $0.12c/kWh and “Time Varying” which consists of two rates, $0.099 to $0.14c/kWh. (see below)
ECONOMIC EXAMPLE
The installation of a battery will save the client the difference between the peak rate and the feed in tariff.
IF the solar system produces 20kWh in a day and all of the energy is consumed at a peak rate of $0.24c/kWh, then the client will save $4.80 that day.
IF 50% of that energy were to be sold to the grid on a single rate tariff the client would save (10 X $0.24) + (10 X $0.099) = $3.39 that day.
The inclusion of a 10kWh battery would save the client the 100% peak rate less energy lost due to battery/inverter inefficiency, (around 8%) (10 X $0.24 X 92%) = ($2.21 + $2.40 =$4.61)
The installation of a backup battery can, in some cases, allow clients to completely disconnect from the grid, however, batteries are still quite expensive, so mostly batteries are installed for EPS or to assist in increasing PV energy self consumption.
If a client is interested in increasing savings, but feels that batteries are too expensive, ANOVA often recommend investigating load diversion, home automation and load profile optimization. Please contact our design team to discuss the most economical option for your application.
WHY SHOULD I INSTALL A GRID CONNECTED BATTERY?
Many clients choose to install batteries for a number of reasons but the primary driver of our commercial clients is backup energy supply. Chemists, Hospitals and data centres, along with a number of other businesses, can not afford to lose power, as it would result in a significant loss stock or income. ANOVA can design cost-effective hybrid renewable energy systems for backup power in the event of a blackout that keep the fridges on, the lights on and servers operational.
Many clients are also looking for energy independence. Our team can design systems to your budget and energy goals, this can mean a small energy system simply for the utilization of excess PV generated power during the evening to a complete off grid energy system.
Our team members have delivered many hybrid energy systems to clients Victoria wide. ANOVA have experience delivering a range of battery products from Valve regulated Led acid, lithium and supercapacitor technology. Battery systems have experienced a significant drop in price over the past 10 years and prices are continuing to fall.
Grid-Connected Batteries
ANOVA can offer a range of battery technology
- BYD
- Opal Storage
- LG Chem RESU series
- BAE VRLA Batteries
- Arvio Super Capacitors
- Flow batteries
- Salt water batteries and many more
We utilize a range of grid connected inverters charges such as:
- Opal Storage
- Selectronic
- SMA
- Fronius
- Victron Energy
- And more
We can deliver emergency power supplies for any industry in which emergency power is important. Pharmacies, Hospitals, data centres and more.
We have the capability to offer emergency power in the event of a black out, the ability to utilize excess solar energy to power the site outside of daylight hours and the ability to charge batteries off grid power during off peak times and to use that power in the morning during peak times before the solar system meets peak demand. There are a range of ways in which the installation of a battery system can reduce or even remove ongoing energy bills. Please talk with one of our consultants to identify the energy system that is right for your site, budget and energy goals.
Reposit (Energy Management Systems)
Reposit power represents the next step in a distributed generation energy grid and allows end users with grid-connected batteries. Reopsit sells energy to the wholesale energy market, which allows battery owners to sell power back to the grid from their batteries once the wholesale price for energy reaches a desired cost. As more and more baseload power stations close and renewable energy increases market share, the likely hood of wholesale energy prices peaking increases. This is due to solar contributing significantly to the states power demand during the day, but dropping quickly in the afternoon. When this occurs, the demand for energy from other sources increases. Reposit capitalizes on this demand and will allow battery owners to sell energy back to the grid during these times. The inclusion of a Reposit system not only allows the end user to have a clear monitoring platform, but can also increase the return on investment for a grid-connected battery system.
UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supplies)
For businesses such as data centres in which the slightest disturbance in power is an issue, ANOVA also has the ability to offer a range of UPS solutions for any project. We can integrate these systems with a renewable energy system, so that even in the event of a blackout, the batteries can still charge from the installed solar energy system.
Electric car charging
Anova can offer the installation of electric car chargers. Our design team has worked with clients to design energy systems with battery storage that eliminate the need for the car owner to charge their vehicle from the grid reducing the greenhouse emissions from the charging of the car to 0.
