Service

Commercial
Battery Storage

Shift cheap electricity into peak-rate periods. Eliminate demand charges. Maximise solar self-consumption. Battery storage is the single most effective lever for commercial energy cost reduction.

Book a Free Assessment How it works

30–50%

Demand charge reduction for suitable sites

6–9 yrs

Typical standalone BESS payback — faster paired with solar

4,000+

Charge cycles — 10+ year operational lifespan

Overview

The physics of saving money on electricity

Commercial electricity tariffs have two components most businesses underestimate: the unit rate (p/kWh) and the demand charge — a levy based on peak consumption during a billing period. Demand charges can account for 20–40% of a commercial electricity bill.

A battery energy storage system (BESS) addresses both. It charges during periods of low cost — overnight on time-of-use tariffs, or from on-site solar generation during the day — and discharges during peak consumption periods, flattening the demand curve and reducing the peak charge.

When paired with commercial solar, battery storage also minimises export to the grid in favour of peak-period self-consumption, significantly improving the financial return of the solar system. The two technologies are strongly complementary and most sites benefit from installing both together.

Indicative BESS project — manufacturing site

System capacity200 kWh

Peak demand reduction~35%

Annual demand charge saving£12,000–18,000

Annual arbitrage saving£8,000–12,000

Payback period6–8 years

Figures are indicative. Actual results depend on tariff structure, consumption profile and charge/discharge strategy. A load profiling study is included in your free assessment.

Use cases

Three ways battery storage saves money.

Peak Demand Shaving

Discharge the battery during periods of peak site consumption to flatten your demand profile. Reduces demand charges — often the largest single line on a commercial electricity bill.

Time-of-Use Arbitrage

Charge overnight at off-peak rates (typically 7–10p/kWh) and discharge during peak periods (25p+/kWh). The price differential generates direct savings on every cycle.

Solar Self-Consumption

Store surplus solar generation during low-demand periods and use it during evening peaks instead of exporting at low SEG rates. Dramatically improves solar system ROI.

The process

From load analysis to live system.

Load profiling & tariff analysis

We analyse your half-hourly consumption data (HH data from your meter) alongside your current tariff structure. This identifies your demand peaks, time-of-use patterns, and the optimal charge/discharge strategy for maximum savings.

System sizing & financial modelling

We size the battery capacity to your specific demand profile — not a generic recommendation. Financial modelling covers demand charge reduction, arbitrage value, solar pairing uplift, and full payback analysis.

Grid connection & DNO approval

Commercial BESS installations require DNO notification and in some cases export limitation agreements. We manage all grid connection paperwork, including G99 applications where required.

Installation & energy management setup

Installation by qualified contractors with commercial BESS experience. Commissioning includes energy management system (EMS) configuration — charge/discharge schedules optimised to your tariff and consumption profile from day one.

Common questions

What businesses ask us about BESS.

No. A standalone BESS can generate significant savings through time-of-use arbitrage and demand charge reduction alone. However, pairing with solar significantly improves returns and is the configuration we recommend for most sites with suitable roofs.

This depends entirely on your consumption profile, peak demand, and financial objectives. Commercial BESS projects typically range from 50 kWh to several MWh. We size based on your actual HH data — not rules of thumb. A 200 kWh system is a common starting point for warehouse and manufacturing sites.

Modern lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries typically support 4,000–6,000 full charge cycles with less than 20% capacity degradation. At one cycle per day, that's 10–15 years of operational life. Most manufacturers provide 10-year performance warranties.