In an era where sustainability and energy efficiency are paramount, businesses across the Philippines are seeking innovative ways to optimize their energy consumption and reduce costs.
One such solution gaining significant traction is Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). These cutting-edge systems are revolutionizing the way commercial and industrial companies manage their energy needs.
In this comprehensive blog post, we will delve into the world of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and explore how it can benefit businesses, its associated costs, as well as key considerations before deciding on installing a BESS.
We will also introduce you to fractionalized battery solutions by NexVolt – an inexpensive & innovative way you can install battery storage for your business in Philippines.
Table Of Contents
- What Are Battery Energy Storage Systems?
- Benefits Of Battery Energy Storage Systems For Buildings
- How Much Does A Battery Energy Storage System Cost?
- Considerations Before Installing A Battery Energy Storage System
- Battery Energy Storage Systems For Small Businesses
- Free Assessment – Explore the Potential
- Conclusion
- GetSolar: Who Are We?
What Are Battery Energy Storage Systems?
Battery Energy Storage Systems, commonly known as BESS, are advanced energy storage solutions designed to store electricity generated during periods of low demand or from renewable sources such as solar panels or wind turbines. These stored energy reserves can be used during peak demand hours or when the renewable energy source is not producing electricity.
Do take note that demand and consumption are different: demand refers to the amount of energy used at any given period (measured in kilowatts), whereas consumption refers to your energy usage over time (measured in kilowatt hours).
For commercial and industrial companies in the Philippines, BESS provides an opportunity to take control of their energy usage. These systems consist of high-capacity lithium-ion batteries and sophisticated energy management software. When integrated into the existing power infrastructure of a building, BESS becomes a crucial component in ensuring a stable and efficient energy supply.
Benefits Of Battery Energy Storage Systems For Buildings
Beyond ensuring your building can be powered around the clock, battery energy storage systems provide many other benefits.
1. Integration with Renewable Energy
BESS complements renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, by storing excess energy generated during sunny days for use at night or on cloudy days. For wind and solar, intermittency has always been an issue limiting growth of renewables and batteries can easily provide a solution to the intermittency problem while also taking advantage of other applications. This maximizes the benefits of clean energy and reduces reliance on the grid.
2. Peak Demand Management
Businesses often incur additional charges during peak demand hours. BESS allows companies to avoid these peak charges by drawing from their stored energy reserves when demand on the grid is high. This way, you also avoid the need to be exposed to potentially higher electricity prices in the open market to meet your power demand.
3. Energy Cost Reduction
One of the most compelling advantages of BESS is its ability to reduce electricity bills by accessing time-of-use pricing. By storing energy during off-peak hours when electricity rates are lower and using that stored energy during peak hours, businesses can significantly cut their energy costs.
4. Grid Stability and Reliability
BESS acts as a buffer between the grid and your facility, ensuring a consistent and reliable power supply. BESS can help keep essential appliances running in areas where power outages are common.
Curious to find out how much you can save installing battery energy storage systems in the Philippines? We are partnered with NexVolt, the first in the Philippines to provide fractionalized Battery Energy Storage.
NexVolt, through their cutting edge technology, ensures even Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) can adopt inexpensive battery energy storage systems and kickstart their journey towards energy independence.
How Much Does A Battery Energy Storage System Cost?
The cost of a battery energy storage system in the Philippines is very different across different types of buildings, and is dependent on several factors. Determining the cost of implementing a BESS for your commercial or industrial facility involves the following:
1. System Capacity Of Your Building
The size of the BESS directly affects the cost. Larger facilities with higher energy demands will require more extensive and costly systems. Battery energy storage systems using lithium-ion technology have an average price of US$393 per kWh to US$581 per kWh. While production costs of lithium-ion batteries are decreasing, the upfront capital costs can be substantial for commercial applications.
2. Choice Of Battery Technology
The choice of battery technology (e.g., lithium-ion, lead-acid) can impact both the upfront cost and long-term performance. A lithium-ion battery system may cost hundreds or thousands of dollars more than a similarly-sized lead acid battery system. This is because lithium-ion batteries outperform in having high depth of discharge at 85% and high lifetime of up to 6,000 discharge cycles.
3. Level Of Complexity Of Installation
The complexity of integrating BESS into your existing infrastructure can affect installation costs. Energy storage systems involve the integration of many components including batteries, fire detection equipment, controllers, inverters, and more – all packed inside an enclosure.
While the initial investment may seem significant, it’s essential to consider the long-term savings and benefits that BESS can bring to your business
Considerations Before Installing A Battery Energy Storage System
As with any significant investment, there are important considerations to keep in mind before installing a BESS.
1. Energy Usage Patterns
Analyze your facility’s energy consumption patterns to determine if a BESS is a suitable solution. Businesses with fluctuating energy demands and a need for grid stability are prime candidates for demand side management provided by the batteries.
2. Regulations and Incentives
Research local regulations and incentives related to energy storage in the Philippines. There may be financial incentives or tax benefits available to help offset costs. Understanding your business’s preference with battery asset ownership is also critical. Opting for a provider that provides an OpEx model would allow your business to reduce upfront expenses and focus on your day to day business operations.
3. System Maintenance
Develop a maintenance plan to ensure the long-term reliability of your BESS. Regular inspections and battery health checks are crucial. Safety measures and mitigation plans will be required to ensure that deployment of BESS would not affect your existing electricity supply. These measures would have to be drawn up by a provider who understands risk management and the technology well.
Battery Energy Storage Systems For Small Businesses
While battery energy storage systems are extremely viable, they can be difficult to implement for smaller businesses because of its high upfront costs.
We are partnered with NexVolt, a battery energy storage company based in the Philippines that understands the challenges businesses face when considering behind the meter BESS implementation.
Hence, they have come up with a groundbreaking solution – Fractionalized Battery Energy Storage.
What is Fractionalized Battery Energy Storage?
Imagine a BESS that’s accessible to even the smallest businesses. NexVolt breaks down the traditional barriers to entry by offering a shared, community-based approach.
In layman’s terms, this means that multiple businesses can collectively access the BESS. Each participant gets a share of the stored energy depending on their load profiles. It’s like having your own energy bank, where you deposit and withdraw energy as needed.
How Does it Work?
Here’s a simplified explanation:
1. Fractionalized asset
As a behind the meter solution scaled for multiple users, we optimise the utilisation rate of the battery across multiple customers with different energy profiles. This shared asset model allows businesses to keep the upfront CapEx low while ensuring access to a battery for your energy needs. This is especially applicable to multi-tenanted buildings and facilities which might include multiple tenants of a single property such as an office building, industrial park or retail mall.
2. Shared Energy Reserves
The energy stored in the BESS is divided among participants based on their power usage at a given time. Each business has access to their allocated energy, enabled by NexVolt’s algorithm. Our proprietary algorithm determines the perfect time the battery can work for you to maximise energy cost savings.
3. Flexible Energy Usage
Participants can use their share of the stored energy to reduce their electricity bills, reduce peak demand and gain access to demand response programmes.
*calculations based on time-of-use pricing, demand charges by Meralco
A case study of how NexVolt’s technologies can help boost your overall savings by thousands of dollars Source: NexVolt
Free Assessment – Explore the Potential
To kickstart your journey toward energy independence and cost savings, NexVolt offers a free assessment of your building or facility. Our experts will evaluate your energy needs from your provided demand profiles, recommend an optimal BESS capacity, and provide insights into the benefits of NexVolt.
Conclusion
Battery Energy Storage Systems have the potential to transform how commercial and industrial companies in the Philippines manage their energy needs. With benefits ranging from cost reduction to energy supply stability, BESS is a compelling solution. While the initial investment may vary, the long-term advantages are undeniable. Considerations such as energy usage patterns and local regulations should guide your decision, and NexVolt’s innovative Battery Energy Storage solution offers a groundbreaking approach to making BESS accessible to all businesses.
GetSolar: Who Are We?
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At GetSolar (formerly Solar AI) we’re a passionate team based in Singapore committed to the mission of decarbonising our energy grid. Our innovative rent-to-own solar model is designed to bring solar energy within reach for homeowners, removing upfront costs and simplifying the process with a straightforward monthly payment plan. This approach effectively overcomes the challenges associated with embracing solar energy.
As of now, our services are exclusively available within Singapore’s borders. However, we invite you to connect with us on our social media platforms. The future holds exciting possibilities, and who knows, we may expand our reach beyond Singapore one day. When that time comes, you’ll be among the first to know!
