Bosch introduces energy storage solution as back-up for solar panels
At
over 125 years old, Germany’s Bosch is already a household name for its
power tools, car parts, and other electronics; it even has a
well-reputed solar panel division–Bosch Solar. The energy division of
Bosch–Bosch Energy Tec–is now also presenting its own solution for
energy storage at the Renewable Energy Exhibition EnR 2013 in Lyon,
France this week (19-22 Feb). In doing so, Bosch becomes the next major
player to develop an energy storage solution to support solar systems.
Such solutions are widely viewed as the most important catalysing
technological advance for renewable energy industries–especially solar
power.
Bosch’s solution–the integrated VS 5 Hybrid energy management and
storage solution–will be available both as an add-on to existing residential solar photovoltaic (PV) systems
as well as for new-build ones. Utilising lithium-ion batteries with a
standard storage capacity of 8.8 kilowatt-hours (kWh), but expandable to
13.2kWh, the system will enable solar panel-equipped homes to store the
power that they produce for later use.
As it currently stands for solar-powered homes without storage
systems (i.e. the vast majority), solar power must be used as it is
produced to attain optimum savings on power bills. If not used then and
there, the power is automatically exported and sold to the electrical
grid, where it fetches only nominal compensation under the UK’s feed-in tariff.
Financially-speaking, the preferred option for homes is to consume all
of the power that their systems produce themselves–thereby reducing
their need to purchase expensive power from the grid.
The VS 5 Hybrid promises to help households to be completely energy
self-sufficient during the sunnier parts of the year. It will also
enable 3 to 4-person households to consume up to 75% of their solar
power (up from the typical 30% for solar homes without storage) without
altering their power consumption patterns–meaning an even greater
savings potential for homes that do endeavour to reduce their usage.
Darker winter months will mean that some purchase of power from the grid
will still be necessary, but not to the same degree as a solar home
without storage, or an ordinary home without either.
There has long been speculation about the potential for energy
storage to supercharge renewable energy, but cost is a major stumbling
block. Only recently has the cost of lithium-ion batteries (a key part
of energy storage systems) come down significantly enough (thanks in
part to the growing electric vehicle
market) for it to make financial sense for companies to begin
developing and commercialising their storage solutions for the
residential market. Germany seems to have kick-started serious activity
in this market by introducing an incentive program for energy storage. Since then, Panasonic has also come forward with an energy management system of its own for the European Market. Kyocera also has a storage solution, but it is only available in Japan at this point.
Source: PV Magazine
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