{"id":122034,"date":"2020-12-16T18:53:26","date_gmt":"2020-12-16T17:53:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/?p=122034"},"modified":"2020-12-16T19:44:14","modified_gmt":"2020-12-16T18:44:14","slug":"revolution-of-the-home-storage-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/en\/revolution-of-the-home-storage-system\/","title":{"rendered":"(R)evolution of the home storage system"},"content":{"rendered":"

Michael Ebel has spent the past decade specializing in home storage solutions. As someone who was there right at the start for SMA, he gave us a detailed insight into the market for this interview. <\/strong>He talks about accelerated development processes, <\/strong>reveals exactly what constitutes a good partnership <\/strong>and tells us why the battery in the home storage system should be considered right from the start.<\/strong><\/p>\n

SMA launched the first home storage solution for increased self-consumption ten years ago. What do you particularly remember from this time?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michael: The market has always been growing at a tremendous pace. Battery-storage systems are now an essential element of a successful energy transition. Nowadays, more than 60,000 SMA home storage systems are helping our customers worldwide enjoy energy independence. That\u2019s a fantastic success. But the process of getting to where we are now was far from straightforward. Well-known companies came and went; the technology was constantly enhanced and refined. We launched the first compatible modular lithium-ion battery back in 2011 because we were committed to increasing overall system longevity. But lead-based systems continued to hold the upper hand until as late as 2014. The year 2015 saw the technological transition \u2013 long-awaited by us \u2013 to lithium-ion batteries thanks to increasing funding opportunities, such as the German KfW program 275, which contributed as much as 30 percent of the costs for the storage system. With Sunny Boy Storage 2.5, in 2016 we then launched the first AC-coupled home storage system with a high-voltage lithium-ion battery, making it even cheaper to store solar power.<\/p>\n

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What have you learned after a decade in the business of home storage systems?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The market is extremely dynamic. For a whole number of reasons, many manufacturers acknowledge that their batteries have only a very short product life cycle. Some big manufacturers had their batteries on the market for less than two years \u2013 Mercedes-Benz Energy Home, for example.<\/p>\n

In addition, successor battery generations almost never preserve backward compatibility with the previous model. This affects low- and high-voltage batteries alike and, in turn, the entire market. This means that system operators often have no easy way to upgrade once a battery has reached the end of its service life and may need to replace a still working inverter. We\u2019re also asked time and again about the ability to retrofit batteries after several months or years \u2013 after all, the price of lithium-ion battery-storage systems has more than halved over the past few years. A subsequent expansion of the battery capacity is therefore very attractive. This is why it is all the more important that we develop our systems with batteries offering the highest possible degree of backward compatibility. When operators invest in a home storage solution, they have to be confident that the solution is fit for the future. After all, the system is designed to reliably supply your household with power around the clock and over many years.<\/p>\n

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How exactly does a backward-compatible battery inverter solve the problem of a battery that\u2019s no longer available on the market? <\/strong><\/p>\n

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Simple and efficient: Home storage systems make PV plant operators less dependent on electricity purchase from the public grid.<\/p><\/div>\n

Our battery inverters are backward-compatible with the latest-generation lithium-ion batteries and vice versa. Lead-acid batteries, such as those deployed in the first 10,000 installed home storage systems, can be replaced with a compatible and more cost-efficient lithium-ion battery that we have approved.<\/p>\n

But the reverse situation is also true: In 2011, we approved the \u201cSony fOrtelion\u201d battery for use in the Sunny Backup battery inverter. The device has long since been replaced by Sunny Island*<\/strong>, but the battery still works three generations on. This ties in very strongly with our sustainability mindset. Our systems are robust and designed to last 20 years. And we have to ensure that the battery \u2013 the most cost-intensive and critical component \u2013 is also future-proof. Crucial to achieving this is the collaborative and long-standing partnership between us and the battery manufacturers \u2013 after all, a home storage solution ultimately has to function as a complete system.<\/p>\n

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Michael\u2019s tip: Since 2011, SMA has certified more than 30 different lithium-ion batteries from a whole range of manufacturers for use in SMA battery inverters.<\/strong> You can find all the high- and low-voltage batteries currently approved for SMA battery inverters Sunny Island<\/a> and Sunny Boy Storage<\/a> in the compatibility list in the download area at <\/strong>www.SMA-Solar.com<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0> Service & Support > Category > Product family > Background Knowledge<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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OK, let\u2019s be honest: How hard is it really to run a storage system?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"SMA<\/a>

Future-proof: Intelligent technology makes the small solar plant on the roof fit for the energy transition at home.<\/p><\/div>\n

With the right technology, a small solar power system at home or in a company will be completely self-sustaining. The aim has to be to utilize the solar energy from your roof automatically and always to the optimum extent in your home. This is supported by devices and a range of integrated features that system operators can always rely on to intelligently charge and discharge the battery. After all, today more than ever, it\u2019s important to ensure a secure energy supply without fossil fuels and provide opportunities for integrating power, heat and mobility at home too. Thanks to the multi-battery concept behind Sunny Boy Storage, we are also pursuing this strategy in the area of home storage solutions. System operators enjoy maximum flexibility because they can connect up to three different battery types and can actively shape the energy transition within their home. We want to ensure that they can always operate their home storage systems with the maximum possible degree of sustainability and future viability. After all, the future demand for electricity is only going to grow.<\/p>\n

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Almost completely self-sufficient power supply<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Speichersystem<\/a><\/p>\n

The Kaiser family first started using their PV storage system back in September 2019. It comprises a 9.92-kWp PV system and Sunny Boy Storage 5.0 with a BYD B-Box H (10.24\u00a0kWh). After one year, the system operator wanted not only to become more independent from their power company but also more robust against poor weather conditions. Meanwhile, however, the battery manufacturer BYD had launched a new generation, meaning that the predecessor model could no longer be used for the upgrade. Jonas Schiel, general manager of the installation company ADJORA Energy GmbH & Co. KG, favored the multi-battery concept behind the Sunny Boy Storage battery inverter because it meant that the latest-generation battery \u2013 BYD HVS with 10.24\u00a0kWh \u2013 could be easily commissioned in parallel with the existing B-Box H battery system on the second DC input. \u201c<\/strong>The multi-battery concept is genuinely unique on the market right now. The ability to flexibly retrofit existing systems with battery-storage systems and integrate e-mobility thanks to SMA\u2019s EV Charger is a real boon. This is German-made technology that’s fun and guaranteed to win people over.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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What are you doing to promote sustainability in your own home?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our PV system is currently generating five times more electricity than we\u2019re using, which is why we\u2019ve connected an additional domestic hot water heat pump so that we can efficiently utilize this surplus energy. Of course, my past at SMA means that Sunny Home Manager 2.0 and the Sunny Island battery inverter are integral parts of my home solution \u2013 not least because we want to keep all expansion options open. Sunny Island 8.0H and two Sunny Boy systems give us total flexibility, allowing us to increase self-consumption, retrofit a replacement power supply or operate the system as a completely stand-alone solution. We\u2019re ready for anything.<\/p>\n

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Where would you like to see a little more sun? <\/strong><\/p>\n

On the north side of my roof, of course ?. But I\u2019d also like to see a little more sun on the roof of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy so that Mr. Altmeier can finally take serious steps to advance the energy transition.<\/p>\n

About Michael<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Michael took an early interest in energy systems, so after undertaking practical training in the field of energy electronics with a focus on plant engineering, he was keen to gain more in-depth knowledge. It was while training to be an electronics engineer (FH) that he discovered his passion for renewable energies. At SMA, he combines his in-depth technical expertise with his passion for energy storage systems of all sizes, currently as Account Manager for commercial PV storage systems.<\/p><\/div>
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\"Michael<\/a><\/p>\n