Can farm businesses find opportunity in battery storage to provide a financially effective solution to meet energy needs? Toby Whatley looks at an option.
Off grid power or an additional peak-demand supply are typically provided through the operation of standby generations, however, Powys-based Northern Industrial Battery Services (NiBS) range of large battery arrays could offer a solution to businesses who which to utilise solar arrays to store energy for agricultural use.
The size and the cost of a system depend on the battery design and the energy draw required. Set-up costs for the system vary between £600 and £1,200 per kWh purchased, with the unit cost decreasing as the capacity increases.
With increasing wholesale electrical costs, permanent batteries could provide a cost balance for those with solar arrays mounted on building roofs and demand a high energy draw during short periods, such as dairy farmers.
Large-scale batteries can be supplied using lead-acid or lithium-based cells, with the manufacturer advising the supply demands of the user will change the type of battery required, with some cost savings offered.
Typically battery systems are provided with 10-year/ 4,500 discharge cycle warranties.
