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Across the world, an increasing number of housing associations are investing in solar panels and renewable energy sources. Many associations see energy optimisation and investments in renewable energy as an effective way to both reduce costs and have a positive impact on the environment. As such, more and more housing associations are joining the global green transition movement.
Below are examples of housing associations that have successfully integrated our battery into their buildings.
The system we offer can be built as needed. This means that the battery can be built with a large tank (kWh) and a small motor (kW), or a large motor and a small tank.
In order to be able to adapt the battery size to your consumption profile, we have a tool that, using two data sets, can determine the most reasonable combination of engine and tank.
In order to make this calculation, the following information is required:
- Extraction of the daily electrical consumption on an hourly basis over a year
- Extraction of the daily electrical production on an hourly basis over a year
You can log in at Eloverblik.dk and get access to your master- and measurement data. Here, as a customer, you can get an overall overview of your electricity production and consumption. Access via: https://eloverblik.dk/welcome
You can easily switch between Danish and English. OBS: For clients based in Denmark
If you want to set up solar cells in connection with a battery, you can request a combined battery and solar cell simulation and this just needs to be stated in the email with the above information.
The bills of a typical housing association are often reflected in the use of electricity and the consumption of each apartment, together with common areas, such as communal washrooms and social rooms, as well as ventilation systems, garages and offices.
It is possible to lower these costs by installing solar cells on the roof of the association ( e). Even so, this can lead to completely new problems, since the consumption of the solar energy is not necessarily parallel to the time period in which the solar energy is produced.
A battery that stores excess energy for later use can be the solution to this problem (this can be seen in the following illustration).
Using such a battery, a housing association will be able to monitor the solar energy produced from their solar cells, being able to show when it is most economical e.g. to wash clothes.
The monitoring will also be able to indicate whether the size of the installed battery really suits the housing association and whether the association should invest in a larger battery and/or more solar cells.
Our need for energy and electricity is constantly changing. This makes us more dependent on energy storage in our daily lives, and we therefore need a power supply that can deliver secure and reliable electricity 24/7. In this regard, batteries are more in demand than ever before.
Furthermore, we need to improve our ability to harness energy from sustainable resources while reducing our dependence on fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. The problem with solar and wind energy, however, is that these energy sources are not always available, as clouds can block the sun, and the wind blows irregularly.
This problem can be solved by coupling solar or wind energy with batteries. This combination allows us to benefit from a secure energy connection that is available at all hours of the day, without negatively impacting the environment.
As mentioned, housing associations are investing in solar panels more than ever before. However, changes in fees and tariffs related to solar panels have made such solutions less profitable for solar panel owners, as excess energy from the solar panels is sold back to the grid at a minimal profit.
This problem can be easily solved by installing a battery solution that can store the excess energy. A solution like this would better utilize the energy from the solar panels, ultimately leading to greater savings on electricity bills.
The battery can be scaled to fit specific energy needs. This is possible due to the separation of power (kW) and capacity (kWh), making it easy to meet the specific needs of the housing association.
The battery is safe in the sense that it cannot catch fire or explode. This safety is possible because the energy in the battery is stored in an electrolyte solution that is largely composed of water.
The battery is environmentally friendly and 99% recyclable, as its major components (tanks, electrolyte, pumps, stack, etc.) are recyclable in their own ways.
The cost of the battery over its lifetime is low, making it a profitable investment.
Housing associations can benefit from a battery by storing excess energy for later use when the sun is not shining and/or during the night. The graph below shows the accumulated cost of a redox flow battery's lifetime compared to other battery types.
A VisBlue battery solution allows you to utilize more of the energy produced by your solar panels.
This investment can be generally financed in two ways:
If you invest in the battery with your own savings, you avoid borrowing money, and with a negative interest rate, you even place your funds in an investment with a positive return.
If you borrow money to invest in the battery, the savings generated by the battery on the electricity bill will cover both the loan expenses AND make a profit on the investment.
Both are positive financing options, and both ensure that the housing association profits from its investment from day 1.
The graph below shows the percentage of solar production utilized by a given housing association, illustrated on the right side of the graph by the blue line. The left side shows how much electricity a given battery can store in kWh/year, illustrated by the red line.
The housing association in the graph below has a consumption of approximately 260,000 kWh/year and a solar energy production of approximately 184,000 kWh/year (these figures are not illustrated in the graph). Without a battery, the housing association uses on average only 42% of the energy generated by its solar panels. If a 40 kW battery is installed, the utilization of the solar panels is increased, and the housing association now uses on average 77% of the energy generated by its solar panels.
Note: This scenario shows an estimate of both private and common consumption. It is possible for a housing association to differentiate between private and common electricity consumption and therefore transfer electricity from both solar panels and batteries only to common expenses, such as shared laundry facilities, etc. However, it has the most impact on the budget and the green transition to have solar panels and batteries connected to both private and common consumption.
A VisBlue battery solution leaves room for and the possibility to be adapted and scaled according to needs. This is possible because the battery is constructed from our own standard modules.
The battery solution from VisBlue is also scalable, as it is possible to install a battery both indoors and outdoors, as well as in container solutions.
It is also possible to upgrade the battery if the energy pattern or needs of a given housing association change, as the battery can easily be disassembled.
The founders of VisBlue are still in the academic environment. This means that VisBlue is always updated on research and studies, making it possible for us to participate in various projects worldwide.
VisBlue has developed an optimized control strategy that helps ensure optimal efficiency.
Each of our installations is simulated first to ensure that the battery fits the specific housing association. This ensures that the housing association gets the optimal size they need.
