solar batteries, which can store power unlike panels, could dramatically alter home energy use - battery energy storage system

By Christopher Steitz Stephen JewkesFRANKFURT/Milan March 8 (Reuters)-
Renewable energy is evolving and challenging traditional utilities, but a growing industry
Easier to use and significantly reduced customer reliance on energy companies
Solar cells.
A major problem with solar panels has always been how to keep the lights on when the sun is not on.
Solar cells allow homes and businesses to store solar energy in the dark, and can also help create "smart grids" that respond to sudden power fluctuations and freely stored energy when needed.
The technology is still expensive and not widely used, but with consumer energy bills soaring, it can quickly gain market share and reduce reliance on utilities, which are already in excess capacity and weak demand.
Italy's electricity price is the highest in Europe, and it is considering how to reduce costs and engage its businesses in competition.
Nicolas corciani, energy storage director at Fiamm, Italy's top industrial battery maker, said heavy-duty power users like cement and steel makers are considering generating electricity and storing their own solar energy --
Even sell excess power from batteries to the grid.
"Germany and Italy will be explosive markets for residential storage, and large energy users are also beginning to show interest.
"This is a change in the rules of the game," he told Reuters . "
The EU's 2020 target is to get 20% of its energy from renewable sources.
By contrast, 12.
On 2010 and 8, 5% of the EU's energy structure.
According to the latest EU statistics, 1% in 2004.
Batteries are essential to achieve this goal.
In the world's largest solar market and Germany, Europe's largest energy consumer, about 40% of all modules sold are installed in households, directly meeting E. 's electricity demandON and RWE. A four-
If solar panels are used, individual households can reduce power usage by 30% per year, and if solar cells are used, they can reduce power usage by 30%, allowing it to purchase only 40% of supplies from utilities.
With electricity bills rising, solar subsidies and battery prices falling, 2-4 years.
The price drops solar cells look like a large car battery, usually installed in the basement of the House and connected to the outside solar panels with an inverter.
This allows the battery to charge and store excess energy during the day and release it at night.
They can also release excess energy to the grid.
The kit is still expensive, but the price of solar panels has dropped by 2 out of 3 in the past two years, and the price of batteries is expected to be halved in the next few years.
A solar cell costs about 800 euros per kilowatt hour (kWh)
As a result, the average cost of the 6kWh battery is approximately EUR 5,000 ($6,500).
Including the installation, taxation, and components that connect it to the grid, an ordinary home-
Consume 3,500 KW hours a year
Pay about 10,000-
€ 20,000 per storage system.
"We believe that 400 of lithium batteries will be available . "
€ 500 per kWh (kWh)
A few years later, life reached 20 years, "said Martin Rothert, product manager at SMA Solar, Germany's largest Solar company.
Lead for solar cells-Acid or lithium-ion.
Germany plans to support the installation of solar cells with at least € 50 million less credit, which will also support a larger scale --out.
BIP, an Italian energy consultant, said the battery market would reach at least 9,000 MW (MW)
Capacity from today's 270 MW to 2020.
Norbert Hahn, board member of IBC Solar, said: "Due to increased supply and awareness, we expect these systems to sell tens of thousands in Germany this year . ".
The development of smart grids also requires batteries, and smart grids meet the needs of the entire network by adjusting power supply.
Seeing the wall of traditional power generation and distribution says that Italian utility company Enel has reached an agreement with NEC, Japan
One of the world's leading manufacturers of energy storage systems
New generation of smart grid.
Developing smart grids helps reduce costs and allows independent renewable energy suppliers to sell power to the grid.
Renewable energy is cheaper and safer once capital costs are amortized.
"The idea is to apply the same principle of the Internet to the power network --
Any connected device can send and receive content, "said Ugo Govigli, vice president of Solutions for NEC's European smart grid.