It’s no secret that commercial energy users in every industry are seeking to reduce energy costs today and achieve long-term cost predictability for the future as utilities implement increasingly unfavorable rate structures. Energy storage provides a powerful, multifaceted solution to lock in rates and achieve power security. Savings opportunities EnergyRead More

As is true with solar projects, the range of environments in which energy storage is being applied has grown and diversified significantly. This diversification in deployments means a deeper understanding of the temperature-related performance and safety issues tied to battery selection and storage system design. For solar installers, understanding whichRead More

AC or DC coupling refers to the way in which solar panels are coupled with and interact with a battery system. A hotly debated topic among solar installers today is whether AC or DC coupling is the best approach for solar+storage installations and retrofits. The truth is there really isRead More

  There are various ways to determine the size of a battery bank when designing a system. The most efficient way to size a battery bank is to determine the electrical loads and load requirements for both power and energy. Proper system design involves a number of factors and requiresRead More

It’s no surprise that within the solar community energy storage is most often discussed in the context of solar+storage. But what about the potential for energy storage where there is no PV system? Whether you’re talking about residential or C&I applications, the truth is that batteries can help optimize anyRead More

Scaling an energy storage system requires stacking both energy (batteries) and power (inverters). Batteries that were designed to be modular can typically be stacked without limitation. However, inverter stacking presents more challenges. The question installers must answer is at what point does it make sense to jump from a multi-inverterRead More

A common misconception is that lead acid batteries cost less than lithium-iron phosphate batteries. However, what most fail to consider is that you have to buy many more lead acid batteries — sometimes double, triple or quadruple as many — just to reach the same usable capacity as you wouldRead More

Beyond merely setting guidelines for battery repair and replacement, battery warranties can serve as a valuable buyer’s guide for your next energy storage project. As the old adage advises, “it’s all in the fine print!” Indoor vs. outdoor installation location If the warranty specifies coverage limitations related to the temperatureRead More

With extreme weather events, wildfires and other threats to energy security increasing in number and duration, homeowners from coast to coast and businesses from Main Street to Wall Street are contending with an ever-present danger of losing access to reliable power supplies. Beyond emergency scenarios, utilities in California have alsoRead More

Throughout the United States, utilities are now applying rate structures to residential customers’ electricity bills that have historically been reserved for commercial and industrial customers only. These new rate structures, such as time-of-use (TOU) and peak demand, are significantly increasing electricity bills for residential, commercial and industrial customers alike, andRead More