Batteries for backup power?
As another hurricane bears down on the Gulf Coast and multiple wildfires decimate the West, it’s not unusual for thoughts to turn to battery backup here in the New York Metro area. We associate batteries with their ability to keep the lights on when the power goes out due to a natural disaster.
And maybe that’s the reason you think you want to explore your options with batteries. Fair enough. That’s a good reason, given what’s been going on this year. Especially if you have begun to lose faith in your utility’s ability to provide electricity reliably.
But there could be even more compelling reasons to consider an energy storage system now, even if you’re not concerned about losing power. Adding an energy storage system to your commercial facility can help you save money even when the grid is working. Here are some examples:
Ways to save money with batteries
Let’s say you’ve already got a solar energy system and are thrilled with the savings you’re seeing on your electric bills. You eagerly await each month’s new bill to see the impact of the solar energy system on the bottom line. But in the process you may have realized that no matter how much electricity your solar energy system produces, you still get charged for line items like “Demand” (measured in kilowatts or kW) that don’t seem to go away. Solar reduces your kilowatt hour charges, but may do little or nothing to reduce your kilowatt charges. This is especially true if you operate a facility that has spiky electric usage patterns that call for short bursts of electricity when the sun isn’t shining. That’s where batteries could really come in handy.
You may even already be using a TOU (time of use) rate that lowers your electricity costs during the overnight hours when rates (and usage) are lower, a smart move if you already have solar, as it helps offset the higher electric rate during the day when your solar array is cranking. If you add energy storage to the mix, you now have the option of charging the batteries at night with cheaper electricity, and discharging them during the day to augment your solar production and use the stored (and cheaper) electricity to help avoid the higher day rate. This can also have the added advantage of lowering your demand (kW) charges at the same time by anticipating your periods of spiky electric consumption and minimizing them by using stored battery power instead of electricity drawn from the grid.
In addition, you could save even more by adding energy storage to a new solar system by capturing the tax credit on both the batteries and the solar if they are set up to work together.
Regardless of what the right combination is for your specific situation, Silver Lining Solar can help you find the best fit and help you start saving money.