Turning sunlight into savings - even when it’s raining!

The age old phrase ‘make hay while the sun shines’ is an all too pertinent one, even in today’s giddy, modern age. As we all know, harnessing solar energy as a renewable source of power has become increasingly popular in recent years. Power generated from all renewable sources such as sunlight, wind and water doesn't pollute the atmosphere when it is produced. This is what’s known as ‘clean’ energy. However, the inherent issue with clean energy is how to store and save it for those proverbial rainy days!


According to the Met Office, London experiences around 156 cloudy days per year. With the weather here in the British Isles being notoriously unpredictable, producing clean energy from sunlight can’t always be relied on. Unless you’re actually using the energy at the time it is generated, solar power can go to waste. Although solar panels are incredibly efficient at taking energy radiated from the sun and transforming it into power, around 25% of an average solar panel's power is wasted.


By addressing the intermittent nature of solar power, there is less need to depend on energy produced from fossil fuels as a reliable back-up. So, how exactly do we store this clean energy to use at a later date?

Solar batteries are becoming a popular solution to the problem of fluctuation in supply. By storing surplus electricity generated during a sunny day, solar batteries reduce the need to buy electricity from a utility company. Furthermore, if a battery hasn’t topped up with enough electricity from the solar panels, it can draw electricity from the National Grid at night time, when the cost of buying from a utility company is cheaper than day time rates.

At certain times of day, such as when people return home from work, demand for electricity from the National Grid can surge. The ability to store clean energy can reduce pressure on the National Grid at these peak times.

On the other extreme, there are times when the amount of energy produced by renewals might exceed the demand for it. Storing this energy in batteries helps prevent any of the clean energy produced from going to waste.

Although ALL ways of producing energy require the building of infrastructure, renewable energy systems can easily be installed on existing structures. Solar panels can, of course, make use of existing roof space, whilst wind turbines can be placed either offshore, or on agricultural land without displacing existing crops. Likewise, batteries can make good use of loft space. This is particularly relevant here in Britain where ambient temperatures are usually below levels that might cause problems for batteries stored in a roof.


The ‘Feed-In Tariff’, introduced in 2010, was a popular scheme in the UK to promote the uptake of solar panels. It meant that the owners of solar installations could allow any surplus electricity they generated to be fed into the National Grid in exchange for subsidies. Sadly, the Government scheme closed to new applicants in April  2019. It’s closure has however, prompted further investigation into storing excess energy in batteries for one's own use, rather than passing it on.


In 2015, TPM, a large print and mailing company based near Bristol, invested in 520 solar panels as a concerted commitment to reduce the company's carbon emissions. During the summer months, their 135KW Solar PV system produces in excess of 20 mega watts of electricity. Less than half of this is actually used by the company itself!

To harness the surplus energy, in January 2024, TPM invested in an impressive 150KWH capacity battery installation. The 'hybrid inverter' system is able to switch seamlessly between grid and off grid. Not only will this reduce the company's reliance on the National Grid during overcast days, it will also improve resilience and help support their long-term sustainability goals by further reducing their already very low carbon footprint.

Advantages of solar batteries:



Independence:


If you have solar panels but don’t have a solar battery, your system will end up drawing any energy your panels don't provide from the National Grid which of course, you pay for. Solar batteries bring you closer to energy self-sufficiency and ensure the energy you use is totally clean energy, rather than potentially less green energy from the National Grid.


No Wasted Energy:


Solar batteries only harness the surplus electricity from solar panels, all of which is cost free!



Seamless Back-ups:


Solar batteries are ideal as back-ups during a power cut. Unlike traditional generators, you won’t suffer an interruption to the power supply while the back-up kicks in, something particularly important for businesses with sensitive equipment that relies on an uninterrupted power supply.



Silence: 

Unlike dirty, diesel generators, solar batteries don’t produce noise that may annoy neighbours or employees at work.


Longevity:


A typical lithium-ion solar battery can last up to 25 years. When they ultimately do need replacing, the batteries themselves are completely recyclable.



Cut your electricity bill:


In addition to the green incentives, another benefit to having solar batteries is to slash your electricity bills. Even on cloudy days, your batteries can be charged up at off-peak times, which is beneficial to the grid, smoothing out supply and preventing power wastage. Stored energy can be then used at your convenience, reducing your dependence on utility suppliers. Some battery owners are even able to disconnect from the grid completely!

Lower Your Carbon Footprint:

Investing in a battery storage system isn't just a financial decision. It also demonstrates your commitment to creating a more sustainable, greener future.