BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS


MAXIMISING ENERGY AUTONOMY FOR C& THROUGH SOLAR AND BATTERY STO


Jean-Marc Guillou, business unit director of Energy Storage, Socomec, explains why battery energy storage systems (BESS) have become the essential counterpart to renewables


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ear on year, renewables account for a larger portion of the UK’s energy mix – delivering


over 50% of national electricity for the second year running in 2025, including record high levels of solar generation. As geopolitical tensions drive energy price volatility and sustainability targets tighten, on-site renewable generation is an increasingly attractive option for commercial and industrial (C&I) buildings seeking to reduce their reliance on centralised and conventional energy sources, and exercise greater control over their energy costs. However, investing in renewable generation


is only the first step. To capture its full value, businesses must also consider how to best store and manage the energy harnessed. This is where battery energy storage systems (BESS) become the essential counterpart to renewables – helping maximise self-consumption, reduce exposure to the grid, improve ROI and unlock greater energy autonomy.


ALIGNING RENEWABLE GENERATION


WITH DEMAND Renewable resources, such as solar, play an increasingly important role in strengthening energy resilience for C&I buildings, while also advancing net zero ambitions. The downside is that generation and demand rarely align, with solar production typically peaking during the middle of the day when consumption is often lower, and demand frequently rising in the early morning, late afternoon and evening when generation falls. This mismatch can leave businesses exposed to


higher grid costs during periods of peak demand, while surplus solar generation – particularly during


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the summer months – often goes underutilised or exceeds grid capacity. Recently, Britain’s largest community solar project was forced to shut down for part of the summer due to concerns that it could overload the local grid, with losses expected to reach around £2 million. Without the means to better balance generation and demand, businesses miss out on the full benefits of their renewable investments and remain dependent on the grid for flexibility.


BESS FOR INCREASED SELF-CONSUMPTION BESS addresses this challenge by giving


businesses greater control over when and how renewable energy is used. A key advantage is the model of self-consumption it enables. More than a storage asset alone, BESS balances renewable generation and site demand by storing surplus energy and releasing it during peak consumption, helping businesses maximise the value of their renewable resources, make significant cost savings and become more self-sufficient. Indeed, while BESS could unlock additional


revenue through grid support services and energy trading – with recent periods of negative electricity pricing across Europe further highlighting the business case for battery storage – maximising self-consumption is another important application. Revenue from ancillary services may fluctuate as more storage capacity enters the market, while the ability to use on-site renewables and reduce reliance on imported electricity can provide ongoing savings. In practice, the strongest returns are often achieved by combining multiple applications to maximise ROI. BESS also creates opportunities for innovative prosumer applications, from EV charging fleets to


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local microgrids. Socomec’s headquarters in Benfeld, France, demonstrates this in practice by integrating photovoltaic generation, battery storage and EV charging infrastructure across the site, with charging stations powered entirely by solar generation and stored energy during the summer months.


GETTING THE MOST OUT OF BESS There is no one-size-fits-all approach to BESS.


Energy demand, generation profiles and operational requirements vary significantly between C&I sites, making it essential to right-size BESS deployments. This ensures peak efficiency and that energy management strategies are tailored to the unique energy profile of each facility. It is also critical for effective capacity planning, helping businesses accommodate future changes in energy demand and avoid unnecessary OPEX. Another factor in maximising long-term value is


Jean-Marc Guillou


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