Residential batteries: The ‘missing piece’? - The contribution of battery systems in conjunction with PV systems to the (economic) value for different stakeholders in the Netherlands

Abstract

A mismatch exists between supply and demand of PV electricity. While residential solar panels produce electricity during the day, most electricity is used in the evening. The possible abolishment of net metering could make equipping PV systems with a battery attractive. Potentially, this battery could address the supply and demand mismatch and reduce peaks in consumption. In this research, various aspects of residential storage was investigated. First, based on a meta-analysis of existing literature of Lithium-ion batteries and based on experience curves, possible cost developments of Lithium-ion battery systems were determined. The meta-analysis resulted in predictions for 2020 of around 250 €/kWh, while experience curves indicated values of around 150 €/kWh. Using power data (measurements every 10 seconds) and battery simulations, the average optimal storage size for a neighborhood in the Dutch city Amersfoort was determined to be 3.18 kWh. The optimally sized batteries have a large impact on overproduction of PV electricity: more than half of the overproduction was covered by the batteries. The impact on peak shaving and load shifting was limited when the batteries were not controlled, but large when batteries were precharged. The most important factors for consumers determined by a consumer survey were product lifetime and safety.