The concept of battery storage isn’t new anymore. However, there are several advantages for electricians that choose to take a course in electrical energy storage systems (EESS).
And the biggest reason? Manufacturers of green energy products want you to be up to speed on their specific products.
So, below we recap battery storage systems, their benefits and the particular topic of training in the most common products right now.
What is battery storage?
Battery storage is simply the process of storing electrical energy in a battery. Most often so the energy can be used later when the original energy source is no longer available.
For example, being able to use energy from solar panels when it's dark.
When we discuss battery storage it tends to be in the context of sustainable energy.
Specifically, home energy storage systems used lead-acid batteries to capture electricity from wind turbines or solar panels.
More on solar: Check out our previous blog on the 7 most common questions around solar panels and solar panel battery storage.
Battery storage in the context of EV charging
Electric vehicle (EV) charging points use energy from whatever source they’ve been connected to. And with grid power, it’s very likely that the original source of the electricity will be coal or some other fossil fuel.
So, if you’re looking to make the whole process of charging electric vehicles sustainable, it’s better to utilise battery storage so your car can run exclusively on green energy.
That would mean capturing surplus energy from, for example, your solar pv system and storing it in the battery component of the EV charging point.
Then, when you came to charge your car (probably overnight), it would be charging from totally clean energy from your solar panels, preserved from the daylight hours.
Is there still interest in battery storage?
In short, yes. One reason why it's still worth qualifying in battery systems is that people are still investing in them.
Over the past 5 years, Google searches for battery storage and energy storage have been steadily on the rise. And according to Deloitte, the energy storage market is accelerating rapidly.
Though what's interesting is that battery searches are nothing in comparison to the rise in Google searches for solar panels. This suggests that it's still not common public knowledge that solar panels go hand in hand with battery storage.
As a qualified energy storage installer, you've a unique opportunity to educate and influence clients interested in renewables on the perks of being able to store all the clean electricity they've invested in generating.
What are the advantages of installing a battery storage system?
And speaking of perks. Here are five advantages of home battery systems.
1. Energy independence
Homeowners become less reliant on the grid by storing excess energy. This is useful when:
- a power outage occurs - particularly beneficial in regions prone to blackouts or areas where power supply is unreliable.
- tariffs for using energy from the grid are higher than other times of day i.e. high demand periods
Circumventing these two scenarios enhances energy self-sufficiency and reduces dependence on external sources.
2. Saving energy bills
Energy independence helps to reduce energy bills as you’re not using as much energy from the grid, from the start.
Additionally, many battery products have smart features to help owners utilise time-of-use pricing (where electricity costs more during peak hours and less during off-peak hours).
A home battery system can ‘top-up’ and store grid energy when electricity prices are low and discharge it when prices are high, helping homeowners save money on their electricity bills. This is also known as load shifting.
3. Maximising solar energy
Carrying on the topic of solar, if you have solar panels installed on your property, solar battery storage allows you to store excess solar energy generated during the day and use it at night or on cloudy days, maximising your solar panels investment.
4. Grid support
In some cases, home battery systems can provide grid support services, such as load levelling and frequency regulation. This can contribute to a more stable and resilient grid infrastructure.
5. Keeping it green
As we mentioned previously, storing excess renewable energy for use at later times reduces the reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation, leading to lower greenhouse gas emissions and a smaller carbon footprint.
In some cases, especially if you choose to have a higher storage capacity, it can make a household totally independent when it comes to electricity supply.
Unlike the grid, the fact that your energy is travelling a very short distance i.e all within or around your house, also reduces losses in energy transmission which further reduces your carbon footprint.
In the case of charging electric cars, it ensures that the point of having an electric car isn't overshadowed by charging it with energy from a fossil-fuel powered national grid supply.
Why is product-specific training just as important as technical training?
Alongside the technical training provided by all battery storage courses, we integrate product-specific training so you’re well equipped to commission some of the most popular battery storage products on the market right now.
Working example: MyEnergi Libbi battery
This battery is new to 2023 and a big reason why electricians are coming to us for their qualification.
Here’s an example of what product-specific training covers (this would also apply to other manufacturer brands covered in the course).
Smart features
Modern battery storage systems need to be connected to the internet to get the most out of them.
You’re only able to use a small percentage of their potential, otherwise.
The Libbi product is ‘eco smart’ meaning it has plenty of smart features that make it more efficient, useful and exciting for the user.
These include automatically optimising the best time to capture electricity from the grid alongside controlling your renewable energy surplus storage.
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Image from myenergi.com
Integrations with other products
The Libbi battery also integrates with other MyEnergi products which is a huge advantage if your client already has some in use, or would like to have more in the future.
For example, the My Energi Eddi diverter product is essentially a control panel that directs surplus energy generated from the user’s solar pv system to a specific location (rather than back to the grid).
Using this alongside Libbi would create an efficient ecosystem for the user’s solar pv energy, storage and usage cycle.
Knowing how these all work together makes you look like the true expert. And the client is more likely to call you back if they ever get more renewable products.
Future proofing
Fixing and maintaining products is equally important to knowing how your clients can use them in the first place.
We cover common issues that can arise and where to go for support and solutions.
Being qualified in energy storage is essential for renewable energy installers
Battery storage systems make renewable energy more effective by ensuring that excess energy generated is available for later use.
For most people, being able to use clean energy around the clock, or at least reduce dependence on the national grid, is the only reason they get renewable energy systems in the first place.
They can't do this without a battery.
From an installer point of view, it also makes sense to be qualified in battery installation. It's the perfect upsell to any clients installing renewable energy systems like solar panels!
What course should I take for battery storage?
The LCL Awards Level 3 Award in the Design, Installation and Commissioning of Electrical Energy Storage Systems is the course for you if you're looking to get qualified.
Equally, a combination course covering both solar PV installation and energy storage is a great option if you require qualifications in both areas.
These courses cover all the relevant health and safety regulations, technical training and product knowledge. Alongside hands-on practical training and assessment.
Why choose Universal Skills Group?
Universal Skills Group is an Ofsted Outstanding training centre in Wakefield, located conveniently close to the M1 for easy access from all parts of the UK.
Choosing to train with the Universal Skills Group means you have access to the best standard of course delivery and the incredible tutors in the UK - who are all time-served electrical installers themselves!
Explore the Energy Storage course here.
Explore the Solar PV & Energy Storage combination course here.
