In Germany, something of an energy transition is taking place. In 2016, renewables made up 29 percent of gross electricity generation, with wind power, biomass and solar photovoltaics leading the way.
Now, a number of German households are looking to harness the power of the sun and gain energy independence by combining solar photovoltaic (PV) panels with `smart` battery storage.
According to its makers the sonnenBatterie, combined with a PV system, could help users meet around 75 percent of their annual energy needs with self-produced, clean energy.
Markus Grillinger is one such user. His home has solar panels on its roof and a sonnenBatterie system inside. "It takes the electric power right from our roof – we get it over the panels – and then it is saved within the sonnenBatterie," he said. Having a storage system enables flexibility. "We… can use the electric power during the whole day, and save it here and use it also by night," Grillinger added.
SonnenBatterie`s offering is just one of many domestic storage systems being developed. Much like the sonnenBatterie, Tesla`s Powerwall, for example, enables users to store solar in the day and then use it during the night, when the sun has gone down.
Back in Germany, sonnenBatterie`s Philipp Schroder sought to highlight the potential energy transformation that could take place over the coming years, in which homeowners become `mini utilities`.
"In Germany we have 1.7 million solar systems, they are all owned by citizens," he said. "So what we see is that consumers become producers," he added.
"If you become a producer, why should you pay for your electricity? You`re your own producer… all we do is we link them together to become a sustainable and effective utility.
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