Solar Energy Storage Solutions
Affinity Energy’s dedicated team of solar energy storage solution professionals are subject matter experts when it comes to PV power coupled with battery energy storage systems (BESS). Our expertise with substations, power conditioning systems, and battery management systems allows you to support multiple use cases, thus increasing your ROI while at the same time making it easy for owners and all off-takers such as the local utility and regional balancing authorities to operate and maintain the power plant.
Our focus on solar and battery storage means we can implement control schemes that comply with constantly changing power purchase agreements (PPA) and interconnection agreements (IA). For example, if your interconnection agreement requires that the battery energy storage can only be charged from the solar plant and not from the grid, we have a solution.
Additionally, our solar expertise extends to our dedicated team of solar SCADA professionals who are fluent in the language of utility-scale solar systems and have worked on 100+ solar PV projects ranging from 2MW to 200MW.
The Benefits of Solar and Storage
How can solar energy be stored?
The most cost-effective way to store solar energy in the current market is in utility-scale lithium-ion battery systems.
Is storing solar energy expensive?
It is forecasted that the most significant reductions in utility-scale lithium-ion battery storage systems will occur in the next 3 to 4 years (ref: “Cost Projections for Utility-Scale Battery Storage: 2021 Update”, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, June 2021.)
What is the most efficient energy storage?
When it comes to large storage capacities, lithium-ion battery energy storage is in the top-4 as far as viable solutions, with solutions like pumped hydro, compressed air, and molten salt leading the way. However, these other forms of energy storage depend highly on the geographic location and are not an option where most solar plants are built.
Is solar energy stored for later use?
By coupling solar power with battery energy storage, you can make the energy available at times when the sun is not shining.
What are the negatives of battery energy storage?
The initial cost is one of the most significant drawbacks to battery energy storage. The batteries themselves, along with the more complex control systems and system commissioning requirements, require that owners do their homework when it comes to payback and/or ROI.
How we Support Solar Energy Professionals
EPCs – We handle complex instrumentation & control
We can take turnkey or a la carte responsibility for specification, procurement, installation, and commissioning of instrumentation and control for your solar and battery energy storage project to ensure it meets contractual requirements of the IA and PPA, as well as specific owner/operator requirements.
Developers – We extend your capability to construct more sites
In locations where utility inter-connect requirements are more stringent, we offer active power and voltage control capabilities that allow for interconnection where a project would otherwise not be feasible. Our control systems enable solar farms to work well on very soft grid connections.
Owners/Operators – We give you the data to operate at peak output
Maximize your annual revenue from your PPA with a variety of low-cost systems that deliver real-time plant information pulled from an often-overwhelming amount of plant data. Then, push that information into your existing O&M platform, or talk to us about a custom solution.
What Our Clients Say About Us
Affinity Energy has successfully completed multiple PV solar projects and SCADA integrations for our company since 2017. As the world’s largest generator of renewable energy, we recognize Affinity Energy as a highly technical, professional, and customer-focused company; we recognize them as our extended technical team and key partner for engineering and construction for new projects.
Nischal Patel
Lead Professional – Engineering & Construction at American Premier Clean Energy Provider
What keeps me up at night? Worrying about keeping our facility running reliably, safely, and efficiently. Knowing I can rely on alerts from our SCADA system designed and installed by Affinity Energy helps me rest easy.
Alex DiGiacomo
Maintenance Supervisor at University of Virginia Health System
Allan Evora
Contact Us To Learn More
Talk to Affinity Energy to learn more about how we can support your utility-scale BESS system.