A solar plus storage system is a big investment and, as developers, you want to make sure that the customer can get the greatest value out of their systems for as long as possible. Several proactive steps can ensure optimal performance and longevity for solar and storage systems. Proper maintenance, an intelligent energy management system (EMS), and insightful monitoring software are essential to maximizing the lifespan and efficiency of your system. Here are a few tips to help make sure that you receive as much value from systems in the field.
Selecting Reliable Hardware & Ensuring Proper Maintenance
There isn’t much external maintenance needed for solar and storage assets other than keeping the panels and terminals free of debris along with periodic inspections to make sure that everything is operating according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. The real trick when it comes to hardware maintenance is going with high-quality hardware from trusted vendors, like the ones that we partner with at Energy Toolbase.
Not all hardware is the same, and that’s why Energy Toolbase only partners with tier 1 vendors to make integration, installation, and maintenance as simple as possible. Some of our partnerships include Tesla, BYD, and Socomec, and our most recent partnership with Sol-Ark gives our users access to their L3 series batteries and 30k/60 inverters integrated with our ETB Controller with Acumen AI™. These are trusted names in the industry and their products come with their warranties and guarantees, which means you can be certain that you’re getting the best products and services available. We also offer remote support for our users. All of this means that your customers can rest easily and enjoy the savings from their systems knowing that there is a team of experts making sure that your renewable assets are running exactly as they should be.
Maximize ESS Lifespan & Savings with Intelligent Energy Management
Outside of hardware maintenance, the best way to maintain and extend the life of an ESS is by managing its charge and discharge cycles with an intelligent EMS. An intelligent EMS can potentially extend the life of your ESS, and it can help you get the most bang for your buck when it comes to maximizing the system’s value. One of the key features of an EMS is its ability to control the battery’s charge and discharge cycles. For most ESS, particularly those using lithium-ion batteries, the optimal charge range is between 20% and 80% state of charge (SoC), meaning you should aim to keep the battery within this range for maximum lifespan and performance. Also, properly managing the depth of discharge (DoD), which is the percentage of the battery discharged during a cycle, is important because the greater the DoD is the more stress the battery is under. An EMS that cannot maintain a proper SoC or DoD will result in degraded battery performance and capacity, and increased costs in the long run.
ETB Controller with Acumen AI is designed to give complete control over your ESS’s charge and discharge cycles and to maximize savings with its many EMS strategies including demand charge management, TOU arbitrage, and value stacking. ETB Controller uses predictive analytics to predict upcoming events, prioritize the most valuable operating strategy, and generate the most optimal plan for every moment. Our comprehensive controls software is guaranteed to maximize your system’s value while maximizing its longevity.
Insightful Monitoring
In addition to an EMS, insightful monitoring software is crucial for providing the necessary details to ensure your system is operating smoothly. Pairing an intelligent EMS with monitoring software is the best way to guarantee the health, longevity, and value of your solar and storage system. Equipment degradation is inevitable, but there is a difference between a natural decrease in efficiency and a lack of efficiency. Monitoring software can provide real-time information about the health of your systems to ensure that your assets are operating as efficiently as possible. This software can tell you everything you need to know about your energy assets, including the battery’s SoC and DoD, operating strategies, temperature, solar production, and provide real-time alerts and updates. Having access to this information lets you respond to issues quickly and nip any problems in the bud.
ETB Monitor is our robust monitoring platform that provides real-time insights into the operational performance of your solar and ESS assets. It provides users with a clear and detailed dashboard that covers everything you need to know about your system’s health, performance, and economics.
One of ETB Monitor’s key features is its seamless integration with ETB Developer, our financial analysis and modeling platform. This integration allows users to compare their system’s savings, solar generation, energy usage, and rate schedule to the original proposal. This financial transparency is crucial for system owners who want to understand the economic benefits of their investment and ensure they’re getting the most value from their solar and storage systems.
Installing solar and storage is a significant investment and with proper maintenance, intelligent EMS controls, and insightful monitoring software, you can rest easily knowing you are maximizing the life and value of your investment. Our ETB product suite is the trifecta for modeling, control, and monitor software that enables successful projects. Try our 14-day free trial to start modeling with ETB Developer or schedule a call with us to learn more!
