Yes, peak shaving can be effectively combined with renewable energy sources like solar or wind. This integration enhances the efficiency of peak shaving by leveraging the excess energy generated from solar panels or wind turbines during off-peak hours. Here’s how it works:
Combining Peak Shaving with Renewables
1. Storage of Excess Energy:
- Solar and Wind Energy: During sunny or windy periods, solar panels and wind turbines often generate more electricity than is immediately needed.
- Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS): This excess energy can be stored in battery energy storage systems like those provided by Ampowr’s AmpiFARM or Moment Energy’s Luna BESS.
2. Use During Peak Demand:
- Peak Hours: During peak demand periods, when electricity costs are higher, the stored energy in the BESS is discharged to power loads instead of drawing from the grid.
- Reducing Grid Reliance: By using stored solar or wind energy during high-demand periods, businesses can significantly reduce their reliance on the grid, thereby decreasing demand charges and optimizing energy costs.
3. Benefits to Renewable Integration:
- Smoothing Intermittency: Renewable energy sources are intermittent; solar doesn’t always shine brightly, and wind doesn’t always blow consistently. Energy storage helps manage this variability by storing excess energy for later use, ensuring a more stable power supply.
- Increased Self-Consumption: By storing and utilizing renewable energy during peak periods, facilities can increase their self-consumption of renewable energy, reducing the strain on the grid and supporting a more sustainable energy future.
4. Enhanced Grid Stability:
- Reducing Demand Spikes: Peak shaving helps to reduce sudden spikes in demand on the grid, enhancing stability and resilience. This is particularly important as the share of renewables increases in the energy mix.
By integrating peak shaving with solar or wind energy, businesses can optimize energy use, reduce costs, and support more efficient integration of renewable energy into the grid.
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