Businesses who choose to install batteries reap the benefits of having excess energy in times of high demand.
However, storage batteries aren’t always the best solution for all companies.
We look at the pros and cons of battery storage so you can make up your own mind.
Energy Independence
Energy independence is a huge benefit for businesses because storage batteries reduce reliance on the grid, meaning you won’t be at the mercy of energy hikes in an unstable market.
Depending on how many storage batteries you install, they will help you become self-sufficient, creating your own mini-energy company.
You can store energy created by solar carports at off-peak times such as weekends and over Bank Holidays and use the energy during peak times, maximising your return of investment.
In some parts of the UK, grid connections from new solar installations are being refused due to a lack of capacity in the regional network for the extra electricity. Instead of capacity issues at the National Grid preventing you from achieving your renewable energy goals, battery storage provides independence and control.
Cutting costs and generating revenue
Storage batteries will save money over the long term.
For example, Solspan calculates that two carports covering a total of 80 spaces, equivalent to 1000m² of solar panels, could slash your electricity bills by between £29,000 to £42,000 per year.
By using batteries to store the energy generated over weekends and non-operational periods, you retain all the financial benefits of those cost savings, instead of selling the excess back to the grid at less than the market rate.
Over the years, batteries, which can be retrofitted to any solar system, may also generate money through selling electricity to staff or the public via EV charging points, or otherwise selling the electricity back to the grid.
Reduce your carbon footprint
Installing solar carports with storage batteries will help companies go a long way to reach the UK’s 2050 Net Zero target.
Solspan’s solar savings calculator shows a potential annual saving of 3571.20kg CO2 if a business converted just ten car parking spaces to solar carports with batteries. With 80 car parking spaces covered in solar carports, annual savings jump to a massive 31 tonnes of CO2, the equivalent of 6,851 cars driven on fossil fuels in one year.
Increased customer & employee loyalty
Going green is not only great for our planet but it may be good for your bottom line and attract more customers because customers prefer to buy or use services from businesses who take climate change seriously.
Your move to sustainability may also inspire more loyalty from your current customers, so don’t forget to tell them what you’re doing to reduce your carbon emissions via social media and marketing materials.
In the same way, it will inspire loyalty among employees who choose to work for climate conscious businesses.
In addition, storage batteries will prove a popular perk with employees who own electric vehicles as they will be able to charge their cars while at work. For example, the electricity generated from two Solspan carports covering a total of 80 spaces could potentially charge 3,500 cars a year.
But it’s expensive
It’s true. Battery storage is expensive though it will depend on your needs, the type of battery and its capacity.
A single storage battery installation starts at around £15,000, and multiple batteries could add hundreds of thousands to a solar carport installation - a large investment for any company.
Also, it’s important for a company to take into account the fact that you may end up buying at least three batteries for one carport installation as each battery lasts between ten to 15 years.
Have you got the space?
Batteries are large and bulky so you need to make sure you have plenty of space to fit them.
Employees who can’t afford electric vehicles may feel aggrieved that valuable parking spaces are being taken up by battery storage for EVs if there is a shortage of space.
However, our team of experts are on hand to work out the best way to use what space you do have.
Do the maths
There are many benefits to a storage battery. However, you need to calculate if you will get back your return on investment.
You also need to examine carefully whether your needs exceed the generation capacity of the batteries, otherwise your investment will be wasted. If the extra electricity you generate will fill up the batteries but then remain unused, then it is worth considering other options like installing EV charging points for staff or the general public, or reducing the size of your solar installation so that batteries are not required.
