If you’ve been looking into solar power and the ways you can save money on your utility costs, then you’ve also likely heard of solar battery storage. These are added to a home or business’s solar panels and it means you can enjoy the benefits of solar power even after the sun has gone down or on an overcast day.
What Is Energy Storage?
Energy storage as it relates to solar systems is the capture of heat (electricity) as it’s available and storing it to be used later via a battery. Having this available during peak periods means you can rely less on expensive electricity from the grid.
In fact, solar battery storage is becoming such an important part of reducing electric generation rates and clean energy supply alternatives to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels – that many states are already adopting incentive offers to help spark interest and encourage installations.
Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) officially launched Energy Storage Solutions on Jan. 1, 2022, a statewide electric storage program for Eversource and United Illuminating residential, commercial, and industrial customers. This nine-year program will continue through December 31, 2030, and that means even more reasons to finally make the move to solar for your CT property.
This is part of Governor Ned Lamont’s goal to achieve 100% zero-carbon energy by 2040 in the state and includes storage programs to help residents better manage their energy costs and provide them with added resilience.
How The Rebate Program Works
The new battery incentive rebate is part of the Equitable Modern Grid initiative and is based on the energy capacity rating (kWh) of a battery. The following incentives have been outlined by PURA:
Average upfront incentives for residential customers will initially be around $250 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), with a maximum per project incentive of $7,500. Commercial and industrial customers will also be eligible for upfront incentives, with a maximum incentive of 50% of the project cost. Residential, commercial, and industrial customers will all be eligible for performance incentive payments based on the average power an electric storage project contributes to the grid during critical periods.
Additional incentives will be available for those who would most benefit from additional resilience measures, such as low-income customers, customers in underserved communities, small businesses, and customers who historically experience the most frequent and longest duration storm-related outages.
Additional Savings From SunPower
To help create a more stable power grid in local communities, SunPower has just announced the launch of its Virtual Power Plant (VPP) solution which will provide SunVault energy storage customers the opportunity to be paid for stored energy that the utility will use during peak demand.
SunPower will coordinate the charge and discharge of the storage battery and customers will be notified prior to or choose to bypass or pre-set their system to a preferred level. The compensation they receive from participating in the VPP program will further offset the cost of their system.
