A photovoltaic system produces electricity from the sun’s rays and then passes it on to the building’s electrical system. However, most often the self-consumption of the household or other facilities is much lower than the efficiency of the panels. In such a situation, to avoid having to resell the surplus to the commercial grid, it is worth using energy storage. Learn more about it and find out the advantages of such a solution.
Energy storage is a battery designed to store excess electricity produced. With it, you don’t have to give it to the grid but can store it and use it when you need it. Photovoltaics with energy storage will work especially well when the panels are not producing power, that is, mainly at night. It also serves as an emergency power supply.
The main advantages of combining modules with a battery are, first of all:
– lower power purchase costs – by using storage, you reduce the need to purchase power from the external grid to a minimum;
– increased self-consumption – this increases the efficiency of the entire installation and affects a faster return on the investment;
– increased energy security – panels with storage reduce overloading of the grid, as well as protect in case of grid power outages.
Such a set has many benefits, which makes it worth opting for. Above all, it is cost-effective.
A 10 kW photovoltaic installation with energy storage can cover the needs of most large households. In Poland, the average insolation is about 1,000 kWh/m2. It allows to produce 9,000-10,000 kWh of electricity per year. Thus, an installation of this power is enough to cover the building’s demand of about 8,000 kWh per year.
The cost of purchasing and installing the panels depends primarily on the quality of the components. The cheapest 10 kW installation costs about PLN 49,000. If you choose modules of the highest quality, which are characterized by greater efficiency and lifespan, you have to reckon with an expense of about 65,000-70,000 zlotys. To do this, you also need to add energy storage. The price of this device depends primarily on the manufacturer you choose. However, it can be assumed that the storage, which will work with a 10 kW installation, costs about 35 000-40 000 zlotys.
Energy storage must, first of all, be matched to the average daily energy consumption of the building. This is extremely important because based on this parameter you can determine the optimal capacity of the battery. To do this, you need to take into account not only the current demand but also possible changes that will occur in the future. If shortly you plan to upgrade the electrical system or purchase additional equipment – it is worth choosing a slightly larger storage.
Energy storage does not have to cover daily consumption at 100%. Just storing a portion of electricity increases self-consumption. Large energy storage facilities provide security and give a higher level of independence. However, their purchase and installation are associated with high costs. However, the battery must not be too large compared to the efficiency of the panels and real energy consumption. It is also necessary to take into account the fact that in the winter months, the amount of energy generated decreases. It is therefore necessary to properly adjust the storage capacity to the current needs. It is worth knowing that many models available on the market can be expanded. This is an excellent solution to increase capacity in the future when it becomes necessary.
Capacity is not the only parameter you need to pay attention to when planning to buy a photovoltaic set with energy storage. You should also verify the power of the device, that is, how many electrical appliances in the building will be able to power. You need to take into account that such equipment as heating boilers and heat pumps work constantly around the clock, so they need more electricity than, for example, an induction hob. To optimize the energy consumption of the heating system, it is worth using special boiler controllers from Engo Controls. Thanks to them, the devices will efficiently and economically maintain the right temperature.
Energy storage must also have safety features to protect it from overcharging. Another very important parameter is battery life. It is determined by the number of full charge and discharge cycles. It is recommended that it should be about 5,000. With one cycle per day, such a storage will work flawlessly for about 14 years. Also, check the manufacturer’s declaration of battery capacity. Ideally, after 10 years their efficiency should be 70-80%.
If you want to buy and install photovoltaic panels with energy storage, you need to know about the subsidy you can get for this purpose. A grant under the “My Current 5.0” program can cover up to 50% of eligible costs. The amount of energy storage subsidy is a maximum of PLN 16,000. This option can be used by applicants:
– Net-metering energy billers who did not benefit from subsidies;
– net-metering billers who did not benefit from subsidies and switched to net-billing;
– net-metering billing and benefiting from a subsidy for an installation connected as of February 1, 2020, who have switched to net-billing, and the storage is an additional device.
The costs associated with the purchase and installation of the battery can also be accounted for under the thermal rehabilitation tax credit. All this significantly reduces the cost of the investment and affects its faster return.
The combination of photovoltaic installation and energy storage has many benefits and allows you to save a lot. It is a solution worth opting for.