Energy storage and price: how much does energy storage cost?

Nowadays, with environmental concerns becoming very important, more and more people are turning their attention to sustainable and green energy sources. One of the more popular alternatives that is gaining ground are photovoltaic installations, which are becoming increasingly popular - allowing electricity to be drawn from solar radiation. In addition to typical on-grid installations, permanently connected to a central distributor bus, more and more people are interested in hybrid installations. An important component of these is energy storage.

In this article we look at what the price of home energy storage is and how to choose it.

Advantages of energy storage for photovoltaics

Energy storage, especially in the context of photovoltaic systems, has many advantages that contribute to optimising the use of electricity. Here is

  • Energy storage for PV installations makes it possible to become independent of the operator's grid. In a situation where a grid failure for a PV plant without energy storage means downtime, a system with a battery can continue to operate until the stored energy is exhausted. The battery provides protection against power failure.
  • Another benefit is the bypassing of the prosumer system. Taking electricity stored on the distributor's grid involves paying a commission of 20 or 30% of energy. By opting for a photovoltaic battery, the excess electricity is stored and taken when it is needed - without commissions or surcharges.
  • The off-grid system provides an alternative to mains electricity wherever connecting an electricity point is a problem. This is why many people opt for it on plots of land away from city centres or located in green spaces where installation work is not carried out.

Which energy storage capacity should you choose?

The power of the battery determines how much electricity it can store. It should be matched to the power of the photovoltaic installation so that it is possible to fully charge and discharge the battery in a duty cycle. The power of the installation in the home should always take into account the prosumer discount system, so 1.2 kWp of installation power must be assumed per 1,000 kWh of energy consumed in a year.

Here are some considerations to take into account when choosing energy storage capacity:

  1. Energy consumption: An analysis of your monthly and annual electricity bills will help to determine how much energy you are using. The power of the storage should be sufficient to cover at least part of this consumption during periods when solar power is not available (e.g. at night).
  2. Size of photovoltaic installation: The power of the energy storage should be harmonised with the power of the photovoltaic installation. In practice, more powerful storage can accommodate more excess energy, but it is important to avoid a situation where the storage is too small to store enough energy.
  3. Energy independence target: If the aim is to be fully energy independent during periods of no sunlight, a larger capacity storage unit may be more suitable. For those who only want to reduce their electricity bills, smaller storage may be sufficient.
  4. Financial support programmes: In Poland, there are government or local programmes offering financial support for the installation of energy storage facilities. When choosing storage capacity, it is worth checking which subsidies can help cover the costs.
  5. Future system extensions: If there is a plan to expand the photovoltaic installation in the future, it is worth considering the purchase of larger capacity storage to cover the eventual need for more energy.

Before deciding to purchase energy storage, it is always advisable to consult with renewable energy professionals who can carry out a needs analysis and help tailor the storage capacity to your specific circumstances.

Photovoltaics and energy storage - why is this such a beneficial combination?

Combining photovoltaics with energy storage is a highly beneficial solution for a number of reasons. Here are some of the key benefits of this synergy:

  1. Maintaining Permanent Access to Energy: Photovoltaics generate electricity based on the availability of sunlight. However, during periods of no sunlight, such as night time, the ability to use energy previously stored in storage allows electricity to remain available at all times. This solution eliminates the problems associated with the instability of energy supply from photovoltaic panels.
  2. Energy Independence: The combination of photovoltaics and energy storage enables homes and businesses to achieve a greater degree of energy independence. The ability to store excess energy allows them to use their own resources even at times when the electricity grid is unavailable or in emergency situations.
  3. Energy Optimisation: Energy storage allows the storage of excess energy generated during periods of high sunlight availability. As a result, the user can optimise energy consumption by using it when production from photovoltaic panels is insufficient. This, in turn, helps minimise the need to use conventional energy sources.
  4. Reducing Electricity Bills: Using energy storage reduces the need to purchase energy from the grid at times of peak demand, resulting in lower electricity bills. The user can use the stored energy at times when the cost of purchasing from the grid is higher.
  5. Sustainable Development: Combining photovoltaics with energy storage fits in with the idea of sustainability, where renewable energy sources are used and negative environmental impacts are minimised. By operating entirely on renewable energy, users can contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
  6. Support for the Electricity Network: Energy storage systems can also support the electricity grid by providing energy at specific times when demand is high. This helps to balance the load on the grid and can improve overall energy efficiency.

As a result, combining photovoltaics with energy storage not only contributes to sustainability, but also provides practical benefits in terms of stability of energy supply, energy independence and potential financial savings.

How much does energy storage cost?

Energy storage 5 kWh

A 5 kWh battery will be adequate for a household consuming around 10-11 kWh of energy per day (around 4,000 kWh in a year). With an autoconsumption of 20-30%, the storage will store half of the daily electricity demand.

Prices for 5kWh energy storage range from £15,000 to £35,000.

Energy storage 7 kWh

Photovoltaic batteries with a capacity of 7 kWh cost between 20,000 and 40,000 PLN. They will be able to power a medium-power installation for a few hours or a small PV system for several hours.

Energy storage 10 kw

The most typical capacity of a photovoltaic battery, which corresponds to a 7 to 9 kWp photovoltaic installation. The price of such a device is between PLN 30,000 and 40,000.

Energy storage prices on the Polish market are very high. Despite the fact that the global price of 1 kWh is falling, there are still many Poles using photovoltaics who cannot afford them. Others, on the other hand, feel that the gain of a few or even a dozen extra hours of domestic appliances is not worth the prohibitive price.

How to buy energy storage wisely?

How much energy storage costs depends primarily on its specifications. Remember, however, that a larger battery does not always mean greater benefits. The profitability of photovoltaics lies primarily in the appropriately selected installation power, the service life of the components and the parameters of the energy storage. Only these values, correlated with each other, will yield the maximum profit.

In order to buy a photovoltaic battery on favourable terms, it is worth contacting our representatives who, knowing your electricity requirements, will help you choose the right energy storage parameters so that you optimise the benefit.

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