Energy storage is pairing with solar photovoltaics to bring a new level of resilience to on-site energy systems. As part of this nationwide trend, Knoxville-based Solar Alliance is designing and installing solar + storage for a range of commercial applications in the Southeast. Most recently, this was completed at Dr. E.V. Davidson Recreation Center for the City of Knoxville, Tennessee, in coordination with Knoxville Utilities Board.
Why Battery Energy Storage Systems or BESS with solar?
- Advanced technology stores excess energy
- BESS provides energy from batteries at night
- Stored energy backs up critical electrical loads
- Achieve energy independence from grid outages
- Dependable, on-site electricity at a predictable price
How common is this becoming? The Solar Energy Industries Association predicts that more than a quarter of energy capacity additions over the next five years will include battery storage.
American Clean Power reports that on the larger, utility scale, more than 90% of new power capacity to the U.S. grid in 2025 was from solar, wind and energy storage. ACP advocates for more of this to keep utility costs lower for the all consumers.
The advantage of solar and storage on your own municipal or business site is the ability to directly oversee how you are making and using clean energy. This distributed energy makes your site less dependent on the grid.
End users have more choices now in battery systems than ever before. They have several features for peak shaving, data interface, fire suppression, cabinet climate control, and more. Talk with an energy professional about how your site uses electricity to determine if BESS is right for you.
Anne Brock-Rankin is Marketing Coordinator for Solar Alliance, a renewable energy company based in Knoxville. She can be reached at abrock@solaralliance.com.
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