THE BASICS OF ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS
Consumers are under increasing pressure to control their growing energy usage and costs. Managing energy consumption is one avenue of improvement, but ultimately, conservation is the first line of defence in reducing energy costs.
New energy storage options put consumers in an advantageous position to manage their hydro costs. Increasingly, commercial consumers are looking at systems that combine economical power generation with efficient energy storage. By implementing and integrating this type of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), consumers take control of their energy usage, stabilize their power supply, reduce the environmental impact of the electricity they use, and create new revenue sources. DER solutions can be tailored for different applications, consumers and industries, which means consumers can choose the systems and solutions most appropriate for their current needs and design for scalability to meet their future needs.
Let’s explain some of the basics. Throughout this article you will find links that allow you to dive deeper into particular areas of energy storage.
What is an Energy Storage System?
An energy storage system (ESS) is a system that stores energy in a variety of different means such as compressed air energy storage, hydroelectric dames, power to gas and battery cells, otherwise known as Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).
Battery Energy Storage Systems are a subset of ESS’s where energy is stored either by drawing power from the hydro grid and storing it in the battery for future use, or by generating power from a renewable source such as solar or wind and storing the energy in the battery for future use.
What is a Distributed Energy Resource Solution?
A distributed energy resource solution is an energy management solution made up of multiple elements including renewable energy generation generators, gas Co-Gen’s, etc, and energy storage (such as a BESS), high-efficiency hardware, and predictive analytics and monitoring software.
Energy storage can be used at any level, from integrating batteries in a residential setting to developing a fully, self-sufficient micro-grid system. In fact, local distribution companies (utilities) also use energy storage systems to help support their clients’ energy usage.
It is worth noting for clarity, that a battery energy storage system (BESS) can be a distributed energy resource (DER), but a DER is not always a BESS.
Using Energy Storage at home
Integrating energy storage in residential applications allows consumers to dedicate power for a specific time of day or piece of equipment such as an electric car. Consumers are using hybrid systems to manage their energy and rely less on the hydro grid by integrating renewable, storage and backup power systems. In new construction applications or remote locations, off-grid systems are being designed to allow consumers to rely completely on generating, storing and using their own electricity. Learn more about how renewable solar integrates with energy storage.
What is a Micro-grid Solution?
A micro-grid is a business, facility, or other space that is powered by its own power generation and distribution system.
In residential applications, a popular term is smart communities or smart cities, which focus heavily on integrating technology, culture, sustainability, education and energy management or green technology.
A commercial micro-grid solution is a system that takes the entire range of electrical production and consumption of a facility into account and integrates a complete DER solution to upgrade, manage, generate, store and use energy. Micro-grid solutions may be where very large energy users are headed in the future, but for the time being, most facilities will see the benefit of conservation initiatives and energy storage system integration.
Dig deeper into the benefits of distributed energy resources and how they save consumers money here.
Want to learn more? Up next: Distributed Energy Resources – Saving consumers money
About Arcadian Projects
Arcadian Projects is committed to providing the best energy and industrial solutions to help our customers reduce their energy consumption, meet energy conservation goals, and improve facility operations.
We continuously strive to deliver long-term service and technical support, while acting with the utmost consideration for safety in all aspects of our projects. With our passion for sustainable energy and our commitment to client satisfaction, our diverse and experienced team continues to stand out from others. We have the capability to complete all aspects of our energy projects in-house with an approach that is safe, cost-effective, and efficient. Potential partner project financing available for energy projects.