Solar News & Information

Battery Storage — the New Energy Efficiency in Massachusetts

May 29, 2019

SunRa Solar Staying Ahead with Battery Storage

At SunRa Solar, battery storage is being included as an add-on to a solar energy system and as a retrofit.

This is great news for homeowners needing immediate security through backup power, or those who want to plan for the future. Here’s why:

Energy storage is becoming the next clean energy associated growth market. That is because storing electricity for later use benefits every aspect of the power supply network. For a homeowner with a solar energy system, battery storage helps to shift the use of generated solar power to a later time. But for utilities, the value is even greater.

Consider that the largest Massachusetts utility is investing to analyze solutions to electrical power quality problems unrelated to renewable energy. In New Hampshire, Eversource is running a battery experiment, taking the concept to a new level. The rural town of Westmoreland struggles with power service and quality issues. Town residents, local businesses, and critical facilities like the fire station, elementary school and county nursing home experience interruptions throughout the year. Working with the existing state energy efficiency program, NHSaves, the utility is offering a flexible way for ratepayers to use devices and technology of their own choosing to help offset electricity demand during peak periods. Incentives will help cover ratepayers equipment costs. But most importantly, Eversource recognizes the importance and value of battery storage, including a 1.7 MW battery in the design. This gives the utility more control over short term peak supply and demand imbalances for those within the network under analysis.

Furthering the utility’s commitment to promoting efficient and effective use of electricity, Eversource will pay customers to reduce energy usage with smart technology. Items like smart thermostats and occupant owned battery storage and energy management are included.

All of the programs and incentives have a common goal. The less energy a family needs to light the home and operate appliances, the less power must be generated, especially at peak times. Less power peaks means a more stable grid. In Massachusetts, less power generated means less emissions from natural gas power plants, among others, too.

Battery Storage for Massachusetts Homeowners

So what does this mean for eastern Massachusetts homeowners?

In addition to utilities, Bay State lawmakers also have recognized the importance and positive impact of battery storage. Small provisions were included in the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target Program (SMART), where the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) sets an incentive adder for energy storage. The guidelines create a variable incentive schedule for larger, centrally located energy storage systems and includes provisions for behind-the-meter battery storage systems. This exactly describes the home-based or residential system. It would store and serve electricity to the home, installed in the home, behind the meter, battery storage can charge and discharge in a way invisible to the utility.

Currently, the DOER and state regulators are working on locking down the final guidelines for this program. However, the state is not inactive in promoting residential battery storage. Most recently, Massachusetts included battery storage in the statewide energy efficiency plan. Some highlights of this program:

Zero interest loans will be made available within defined guidelines.

5 Year contracts with an offering utility provide a specified payment. This generous payment reimburses the owner based upon each kilowatt-hour of stored energy used. The contract clearly defines the applicable peak period time frame. This is valuable to the utility because that is a kWh less in demand on an already busy supply grid.

SunRa Solar and Battery Storage

SunRa Solar is watching closely the progress of battery storage incentives in Massachusetts. Partly to stay ahead of the state and utility developments, but also to offer value today, we have partnered with some of the most reputable and recognized battery storage system manufacturers.

We offer solar energy system designs that include built-in battery storage capacity. We also efficiently design and retrofit battery storage into most existing home solar energy systems.

If you are interested in solar power and want to protect your home against short term power outages, visit our Solar Plus Battery Storage page.

If have have an existing solar energy system, contact us below or call us today.

Contact Us with questions or to see exactly how solar power will work for YOUR home, saving you thousands. It’s a free evaluation with absolutely no obligation.