Phil Mole is chief executive of Alt-Solar, which designs and supplies solar PV systems. He takes a look at innovation in the solar energy sector, in the areas relevant to the poultry farming industry.
After a steep decline in solar installations during the pandemic due to lockdowns, solar installation numbers recovered by the second half of 2020 and have since gone on to exceed pre-pandemic levels. So much so that in 2023, there was a yearly increase in solar PV installations that was the highest seen since September 2017, and there are now a total of 1,353,261 solar installations – both commercial and residential – in the UK.
It is widely accepted that solar can provide the best levelised cost of energy (LCOE), but what lies ahead for the technology?
The integration of solar PV with energy storage systems is a strong factor driving the industry forward. Battery storage will optimise solar energy by enabling round-the-clock energy utilisation, not just when the sun is shining.
Battery storage allows solar energy to be stored and then to be used productively and cost effectively at the optimum time. Adding battery storage can be done retrospectively after panels are installed and assists in using more renewable energy, utilising self-generated power and decreasing reliance on the grid.
Another innovation in the solar industry is Energy Management Systems (EMS). An Energy Management System (EMS) is a technology platform that optimises all energy-related assets and processes. An EMS system will optimise the way energy is generated, stored, consumed, and sold. For battery storage, an EMS is essential as it manages charging and discharging of the battery storage units, ensuring best performance and battery life and therefore ROI, in a user-friendly system.
Huge amounts of data are processed in the EMS, allowing it to secure or make intuitive, intelligent insights and decisions about current and future energy usage, for example in relation to patterns in energy consumption, inefficiencies, predicting maintenance needs and flow of energy to ensure peak performance and potentially make cost savings.
The EMS system working in tandem with solar PV, battery storage and Battery Management Systems (BMS) along with other assets or electrical consumers on site, can enable a more efficient use of generated energy, reducing the overall reliance on grid energy.