By Kathie Zipp, SPW editor
Pairing energy storage with solar brings many benefits to the end user, especially those in the commercial and industrial space. Vic Shao, CEO of Green Charge Networks, said there are significant market opportunities right now for solar+storage in non-residential settings.
“Combining solar plus energy storage can bring additional revenue streams to a project including arbitrage and demand response programs,” he said. “Because most of our customers opt for our shared savings model, taking advantage of these synergies comes at essentially no additional cost. Utilities also appreciate pairing these technologies as a solution for variable solar production—
more consistent flow of energy.”
A recent successful solar+storage case study involves an installation with electric vehicle charging at California’s Mountain View Los Altos High School District (MVLA). Green Charge Networks installed a combined 1.08 MWh of lithium-ion-based energy storage capacity at two campuses in the district. Remotely monitored through a Green Charge Networks controller, these energy storage systems help minimize spikes in electricity demand from the grid, helping MVLA avoid costly charges. The energy storage systems then recharge from solar panels on covered parking spaces during lower-cost off-peak hours.
Shao said solar+storage offers attractive electricity cost savings to businesses, municipalities and government customers. “A cloud passing by at an inopportune time when demand at a facility is high can create costly demand spikes,” he said. “Adding energy storage to a solar array improves the economics of the entire installation and secures an investment against climbing charges. Together, both systems work to lower an electric bill.”
Energy storage applications in the commercial and industrial space fall into the following categories: demand shaving, time-of-use cost triage, self-consumption and microgrid. A second case study in California involves a 100-kW solar system, along with 60 kWh of energy storage, to help the Bear River Casino offset its own energy costs and demand charges. JLM manufactured, designed, installed and commissioned this system, which also uses wind turbines.
“It might be scary to contemplate renewable energy, but it really pencils out economically,” said Matthew Mattson, executive director of Tribal Operations, in a JLM video about the Bear River project. “It’s something that fits with long-term stewardship of our planet, but it also makes business sense.”
Green Charge Networks is partnering with Duke Energy Renewables, REC Solar and others to offer savings to commercial customers through solar+storage solutions.
“Energy storage adds to the list of compelling reasons why businesses should go solar,” said Al Bucknam, CEO of REC Solar, in a Duke Energy news release. “Commercial customers save money by adding energy storage to reduce their peak demand, which can account for up to 50% of their electricity bill.”
Farid Dibachi, CEO and founder of JLM Energy, also sees solar+storage as a great option for more commercial customers. “Solar+storage is absolutely the cornerstone of JLM’s focus,” he said. “Solar+storage is central to our philosophy of grid-synergistic renewable energy. The grid provides us the ability to increase our customers’ grid-independence while maintaining their ability to use energy from the grid when it is the most economical.”