Time-of-use shifting
Many sites face higher energy costs during defined peak periods. A practical shifting plan identifies charge windows that do not create new peaks,
sets a minimum reserve for unexpected load, and defines discharge ceilings that protect inverter limits. We also document how the plan changes across
seasons, because peak periods often move.
We verify the shift using metered intervals: kWh charged off-peak compared with kWh discharged on-peak, plus any secondary impacts on demand charges.
If the tariff has complex rules, we map them into decision logic that operators can understand.
Peak shaving
Peak shaving targets the short intervals that set your maximum demand. The key design inputs are the size and duration of typical peaks, the ramp rate,
and the degree to which peaks are predictable. We set a target ceiling and determine how the system reacts when demand approaches that level.
A good peak shaving plan includes a recharge strategy that avoids simply moving the peak to a different hour. We align recharge with low load periods,
and we define the conditions where the system should pause discharge to maintain reserve.
Renewable capture
For sites with solar or wind, storage can reduce export and increase the share of on-site generation consumed behind the meter. We size usable capacity
based on typical surplus periods and your evening or overnight load. The dispatch rules focus on charging when generation exceeds load, with guardrails
to avoid overcharging and to preserve headroom for later surpluses.
We track improvements through simple indicators: exported kWh reduced, imported kWh reduced during key windows, and a clear comparison to a baseline
period with similar weather where possible.
Resilience and backup
Backup configurations depend on what you must keep running. We define a critical load list, estimate runtime needs, and set a reserve percentage that
is not used for daily optimization unless explicitly allowed. For facilities, we consider restart sequencing and how the system behaves when large motors
or compressors come online.
Because outage behavior is a safety and reliability topic, we document the operational mode clearly: what islands, what does not, and how to return to
normal operation when grid power stabilizes.
Controls, monitoring, and verification
Controls convert a battery into a dependable operational tool. We define what signals the system uses, how often it updates decisions, and how it handles
missing data. Monitoring includes alarms for state-of-charge limits, inverter constraints, and temperature conditions. For operators, the priority is
clarity: a dashboard that shows when the system is charging, why it is charging, and what it is protecting.
Verification is the final step. We set a small number of acceptance checks that correspond to your objective: for example, an observed reduction in peak
intervals, or a defined amount of kWh shifted from on-peak to off-peak. When you can measure behavior, you can improve it without relying on assumptions.
