Innovation : Solar and Storage
Storage technology brings holy grail for household and business energy
Storage technology will drive strong demand for photovoltaic-generated electricity as householders seek to reduce costs by lessening reliance on the grid while protecting the environment . Consumers can now generate electricity during daylight hours for use in the evening and overnight . Done well , this is the Holy Grail of household energy . A November 2016 study by EuPD Research found 70 per cent of UK homeowners were unaware of PV storage solutions . This presents a huge opportunity for installers to educate and support their customers on improving household energy self-reliance and efficiency .
High performance SOLARWATT ( www . solarwatt . net ), the German manufacturer of highperformance dual-glass solar PV panels and energy storage systems , has been building a UK and Ireland distribution network , partnering with expert distributors and installers . By integrating components of the highest quality and most advanced technology , SOLARWATT aims to reshape the market by providing households and small firms with PV + storage packages that are optimised for long-term electricity production , maximising self-consumption . SOLARWATT is Europe ’ s most experienced manufacturer of dual-glass modules . The development of MyReserve batteries has been led by some of Europe ’ s foremost lithium-ion battery experts . All components are manufactured at the company ’ s factories in Germany . Having adapted its business model in 2012 , SOLARWATT is focused on applying industry-leading knowledge to produce complete solutions bringing energy independence to homes and small firms .
The energy storage future is here SOLARWATT MyReserve is a DC-coupled storage system fully usable for new installations and retrofit , designed to keep PV energy in the home . The battery
12 | www . renewableenergyinstaller . co . uk
Above : The MyReserve battery storage system which received the renowned EES Award for energy storage innovation at Intersolar 2015 and top brand PV Storage 2017 by EUPD
is based on lithium-ion technology and installed on the DC side directly between the PV modules and the inverter . With its unique power electronics , this produces an extremely high efficiency rate of 96 per cent at best point . MyReserve is compatible with all common PV inverters so can be integrated into existing systems with no additional conversion costs . Compact construction and modular design make for fast , easy installation by one person as the maximum weight of any component is under 25KG .
SOLARWATT ’ s package components to generate , store and manage energy :
• SOLARWATT long-life dual-glass PV modules ;
• MyReserve , the safest and most efficient energy storage system , in combination with the most accurate , high-precision AC sensor ;
• Energy Manager , an intelligent software system that optimises self-consumption and serves as a smart hub .
All raw materials and components have been chosen specifically by SOLARWATT experts for maximum efficiency and safety .
High speed = high self-consumption High speed results in more use of selfproduced energy from the solar panels . SOLARWATT developed a fast AC sensor to detect and measure current , voltage and frequency changes in all three phases . Built-in 3x168MHz single-core processors enable the system to respond within 0.7 seconds . This is important as appliances such as coffee machines and induction cookers are constantly switching on and off . A storage system must react fast to prevent electricity requirements being met too late or not at all , which would decrease self-consumption .
Safety and security the key to storage Li-ion batteries are exceptionally powerful and their safe operation comes from vast research and development knowhow . Safety has been foremost at every development stage . SOLARWATT experts who developed this technology are authorities in their own right . Previously , they led the creation of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Safety Guidelines for Li-ion , since adopted industry-wide . Data security is a growing challenge . MyReserve is cyber-safe , preventing unauthorised changing of battery management system settings .
One single reliable source As all components come from SOLARWATT , installers and distributors can turn to one source for both purchase and support , with complete confidence . Installation and design partners will benefit from training and certification , marketing and communication support and SOLARWATT branding to ensure they are equipped to deliver the best possible options . So , do want the most efficient solar + storage system , or the safest ? Face it – you want both .