SOLAR + STORAGE (Solar PV + BESS)
Solar PV (Solar Photovoltaics) and Storage (Battery Energy Storage System) have a growing symbiotic relationship designed to improve each other's value. Solar electricity production is intermittent and utilizing a battery storage system allows the owner/operator to capture electricity for use anytime and when the sun isn't shining.
Its value is not just for backup power applications mitigating risk of curtailment but can be used to smooth electricity prices through arbitrage, minimizing penalties from demand charges, and provide services to the utility by providing black start capability and frequency regulation while creating a more resilient power grid.
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The Solar plus BESS solution now creates an economical method to become more energy independent in residential and C&I spaces. Let us help you determine the best value stream combination based on your existing infrastructure,
load and emergency requirements.
ESG - RENEWABLE ENERGY STRATEGY
Solar + BESS
Electricity is the world's largest commodity, but typical systems lack the ability to store it easily. With improved battery technologies and decreasing costs, battery storage systems have become the most common electricity storage method.
Today, lithium-ion batteries are the most prevalent, with safer redox flow battery technologies making inroads for longer-term discharge applications.
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Both technologies are modular, allowing for easy placement and the ability to relocate, if required, with two design architectures: DC coupled usually being most efficient, and AC coupled systems taking advantage of capacity firming, energy time-shifting, and ramp rate control. The DC-coupled system may also allow clipping and curtailment recapture and low voltage harvest.
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Solar + Storage can provide many benefits: backup or emergency power, energy arbitrage, demand charge management, and power quality management protecting sensitive equipment. These solutions offer a significant step toward your energy independence.
SOLAR STORAGE BATTERIES
Batteries are designed to serve two primary purposes: Store energy and Release energy. Usually, external electronic devices control how they are charged and discharged, intended to protect the battery's life and the user's property they are powering called the BMS (battery management system). The BMS is designed around the battery’s specific chemistry and releases energy in both directions based on the optimum ambient and battery cell temperature as well as the cells voltage condition
and controls any active thermal conditioning system as required.
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The most popular lithium-ion battery chemistries used today in EV’s and Solar storage batteries are:
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- NMC - Nickel Manganese Cobalt
(LiNiMnCoO2)
- NCA - Nickel Cobalt Aluminum
(LiNiCoAlO2)
- LFP - Lithium Iron Phosphate
(LiFePO4)
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NCA has the highest specific energy density today, followed by NMC and then LFP, which is as much as 40% less dense, meaning you need a larger volume of LFP batteries to equal the capacity of the NCA or NMC battery types.
However, the LFP batteries are less expensive, weigh less, are non-toxic (no cobalt) and are much safer (will not thermally run away causing battery fires), require less active heating and cooling systems, operate on a broader temperature range while providing a longer cycle life and are less toxic to recycle.
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The LFP battery systems allow you to safely install them in more unique locations, such as inside buildings and garages, minimizing insurance increases. They also lower O+M (operation and maintenance) costs.
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I expect LFP batteries will become more prevalent for stationary storage and transportation applications as improvements continue. Another battery technology on the horizon is solid-state batteries which use a solid lithium electrolyte, weigh less, have even higher energy densities, and can be charged much faster. The solid-state batteries may find their way to EVs as the primary battery as soon as 2025.
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SIMPLE V2G/V2H SOLUTION
V2G = Vehicle to Grid
V2H = Vehicle to Home
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This solution allows you to use an electric vehicle, your EV, the local electric school buses, the on-site electric forklifts, electric trucks/delivery vans, etc., to act as your stationary BESS. You connect the battery vehicle behind your meter to power your property to prevent peak demand charges or in the event of a power failure or scheduled outage/curtailment.
