More and more businesses are running into the same problem. They want to expand, add production lines or electrify their vehicle fleet, but they cannot obtain a larger grid connection. Grid congestion has therefore become one of the biggest constraints on growth. But is a battery always the right solution? And is a battery on its own enough? In this blog, we explain.
Grid congestion occurs when the available capacity of the electricity grid is insufficient to handle all demand or generation at the same time.
The situation varies significantly from one location to another. Available capacity is determined not only by the physical cables in the ground, but also by the contracted capacities allocated by grid operators.
Especially in the Netherlands, more and more businesses are experiencing the consequences. New connections are being delayed and existing connections cannot always be upgraded. Pressure on the electricity grid is also increasing in Belgium, with the first clear signs that the same challenges are emerging there.
The result is the same: businesses want to grow, but their grid connection is holding them back.
A battery does not create additional grid capacity. What it does do is help you make smarter use of the capacity that is already available.
The principle is simple. When demand is low or solar panels generate a lot of energy, the battery is charged. As soon as the business temporarily needs more power than the grid connection can provide, the battery steps in.
This keeps total grid demand below the connection limit. This principle is known as peak shaving: reducing peaks in power demand.
For businesses, this makes an important difference. Without a battery, the grid connection determines how much power is available at any given moment. With battery storage, temporary additional power can be supplied without exceeding that limit.
Imagine a manufacturing company that wants to install two additional production lines. The existing connection, however, is not large enough to run all machines at the same time. Applying for a grid upgrade seems like the obvious solution, but this may take months or even years.
With a smart battery, the missing power can be supplied temporarily during peak moments. This allows the company to proceed with its expansion and continue growing its production capacity.
For many businesses, battery storage is therefore no longer a luxury. It is a way to prevent growth from depending on how quickly the electricity grid can be expanded.
Battery storage is not simply a matter of “the bigger, the better”.
A battery must be sized around the actual energy profile of your business. Several factors matter:
An oversized battery means unnecessary investment. An undersized battery will not solve the capacity problem sufficiently.
And without smart control, you will rarely get the maximum value out of the battery.
A battery provides storage capacity. Our Energy Management System (EMS) determines how that capacity is used most effectively.
The EMS connects all energy assets within your business into one intelligent system, including:
Using real-time data, the system continuously decides how the available energy should be distributed. It takes into account factors such as:
Depending on your business objectives, the EMS can optimise for maximum production, minimum energy costs, maximum self-consumption of solar energy or maximum power security.
As a result, you get more value not only from the battery, but from your entire energy system.
Battery storage is often worth considering if one or more of the following situations apply:
A battery will not solve congestion on the electricity grid itself. But it can help you manage the limitations of your own grid connection much more intelligently.
For many businesses, battery storage is now the key to continuing to grow, electrifying further and safeguarding business continuity without waiting years for a grid upgrade.
The greatest value is created when battery storage forms part of an intelligently controlled energy system that continuously makes the best choices for your business.
A battery is not always the solution. But for many businesses, it can be the key to creating new room for growth. Have your consumption profile, growth plans and energy assets analysed so we can determine which battery and EMS solution best fits your situation.