Did you know that a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) does not require connection to a solar PV system? You can simply charge & discharge directly from the National Grid for significant cost savings! Find out more in this article.
Lots of homeowners think that you need to install a solar PV system to utilise a battery energy storage system. But this isn’t completely true. In this explainer article, we look at what a battery energy storage system (BESS) is and how home battery storage without solar can be possible at homes in the United Kingdom.
What is a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)?
Fundamentally, a battery energy storage system (BESS) enables you to store energy for use within your home, without needing to draw power from the grid. There are several ways to draw energy in the first instance – via solar, wind, etc. But the key aspect of a BESS is that you can store the energy that you have collected for times when you can no longer collect it (when it’s dark, for instance).
A BESS utilises high-performance lithium-ion batteries to store energy and most people connect these batteries to a solar PV system. But is it possible to utilise a BESS without solar? You bet it is!
BESS without solar: How it can work
If you don’t want to install a solar PV system at your home but you still want to take advantage of a BESS, you can charge and discharge energy to and from the National Grid in the UK. Although it’s common practice, you don’t need to pair your BESS with a solar system, which can offer significant cost savings, particularly at the point of installation.
Is a BESS without solar a good idea for your home?
Battery energy storage systems are undoubtedly the future as far as home energy storage is concerned. But what are the benefits of installing a BESS without connecting it to solar? Here are some things to consider:
It can save you money on your energy bills
You don’t need us to tell you that we’re still in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, with energy bills soaring. If you utilise a BESS proactively, you can import energy from the grid at off-peak times, when it is cheaper. When demand is lower (usually during the night), you can program your BESS to charge energy from the grid, significantly reducing your bills, as well as the strain placed on the National Grid.
You can add a backup energy supply to your home
Power cuts occur throughout the UK, particularly in rural and remote locations. While some people turn to generators, they’re not cost effective and they have a detrimental impact on the environment. A BESS is a green and affordable way to store energy in your home, which you can then access when the National Grid goes down, albeit temporarily. With gas and electricity shortages forecast this year and next, installing a BESS at home offers your family a safety net as far as backup power is concerned.
You can increase your energy independence
Even if you don’t hook up your BESS to a solar PV system, utilising one still increases your energy independence. Primarily, it gives you more control of the amount of power that you use, as well as when and how often you use it. This helps you to use energy more sustainably and can even save you additional funds on your monthly household bills.
Recap: Is battery energy storage possible without solar?
The bottom line is yes, battery energy storage is possible without solar. You can connect your BESS to the National Grid and draw energy at off-peak times for cost savings. That being said, due to the added renewable benefits of solar energy, it’s certainly worth thinking about adding a solar PV system to your home.
For more information about BESS, learn how we’re pioneering residential energy storage in the UK. Feel free to get in touch with one of our BESS experts if you have any further questions about how BESS can work without an integrated solar PV system.
