ᐅ Impact of Solar Power Systems with Storage on the Electrical Grid

Hello everyone,

I have recently been thinking about how effective solar systems with battery storage really are and came across an interesting point. It seems that private solar installations, even when combined with battery storage, do not significantly support the power grid. The reason is that these systems often feed only small amounts of electricity into the grid at times when it is actually needed. Instead, they usually store the energy for personal use, which benefits the individual but contributes little to stabilizing the power grid.

What do you think? Is it really true that solar systems with storage do not provide significant help to the power grid? Could other measures be more effective in supporting our energy infrastructure? I look forward to your opinions and maybe also your experiences!

Best regards

Bauherr86 schrieb:

maybe also your experiences!

Do you really think a private individual here on the forum can share personal experiences about stabilizing the power grid?

Yes, small storage systems can be helpful. But only if the grid operators have access to and can integrate them into their networks. Otherwise, all the private installations (with or without storage) cause several issues in the grids that would not exist without the photovoltaic systems.

Yes, and unfortunately, the removal of the 70% rule has only made things worse.
With that rule, it still made sense to charge the battery storage when the photovoltaic system was producing the most.
Currently, all the battery storages are charged in the morning when there is already a shortage...

Bauherr86 schrieb:

Could other measures be more effective in supporting our energy infrastructure?

Yes. Smart meters with utility control options for load reduction, smart appliances that run the laundry when the rooftop solar panels are producing electricity rather than at 11:35 p.m., and of course storage solutions within the distribution grid...
The storage system in a private home can only contribute to grid stability if the utility decides when to draw from it. However, few homeowners will accept this, as it means they can’t fully use their stored energy themselves, since the utility is, in a way, counting on that capacity. I don’t think anyone installs a storage system costing around 5,000 EUR (about $5,400) in their basement only to have the utility block it overnight during a low-wind period when capacity needs to be reserved, while the owner would rather use it to charge their electric car...

Therefore, the best solution is large-scale storage directly in the distribution network. A 5 GWh storage system costs much less than one million 5 kWh home batteries and is also more efficient. The control effort to coordinate one million storage units is far greater than managing a single large storage system...

But I expect some bankers and amateur electricians here will soon explain why that’s not true...
Never mind...

MachsSelbst schrieb:

But I assume that soon the bankers and amateur electricians here will explain to me why that isn’t true...

I think it’s good that you’re slowly starting to realize yourself that many of your posts don’t make much sense.

But this time, I guess I have to admit you’re right.

The issue with this post isn’t really the content, but the tone.
Always this negativity and complaining.

It would be better to talk about solutions, incentives, and so on.
Simply create opportunities for owners to earn money with their storage systems.
Having these devices full only in summer and empty in winter isn’t beneficial for anyone.