Power storage systems, a piece of sustainability

A sustainable lifestyle - that's what the majority of us want. We want to protect our environment, be fair to other people and be particularly careful in our use of natural resources. On top of it all, we want to live in a climate-neutral way.

Sustainability embraces many subjects that are all interlinked: ecology and climate protection, resource conservation, long-term economic planning, individual social behaviour, fair labour and trading standards. It is the principle of only consuming as much as can simultaneously regrow or be regenerated. Nature, the environment and the economy should remain in balance through the considerate use of existing resources.

Solar energy is an integral part of a sustainable energy economy. Generating solar power combined with power storage can contribute to sustainability. Many facets of sustainability can be found in the use of power storage systems.

Climate protection: Reducing the CO₂ footprint

Germany as a country has committed to be carbon neutral by 2050. The amount of CO₂ emissions must not exceed the amount that can be removed or eliminated. It means that energy generation from coal and other fossil fuels and the use of internal combustion engines need to be phased out quickly. In the private sector, power storage systems can significantly contribute to achieving the carbon neutrality target. PV system owners can boost the self-consumption rate to up to 70 to 80 per cent with a power storage system. Without one, most PV systems only achieve a self-consumption rate of between 15 and 30 per cent. The higher the share of self-consumption from self-generated solar power is, the more we are assured that the electricity was generated in a climate-friendly and sustainable manner.

Power Storage system protect resources

There is a consensus among energy experts that cities, municipalities and private households will be the key players in a decentralised power generation network and drive the energy transition. Decentralised power generation is considered to be a particularly efficient use of resources. Long power transmission lines become redundant. Expanding the supply grid with renewable energies can happen much faster. Excess electricity is stored on-site and does not have to be fed into the grid and transported. Grid-connected power storage systems actively contribute to sustainability.

Invest for the long term

Installing a power storage system can also be part of an economically focused sustainability strategy. The higher the self-consumption, the less additional electricity the owner of a PV system has to buy from suppliers. It will protect the prosumer from electricity price rises.

Using a sustainable battery technology

A final sustainability criterion of power storage systems is battery technology. Different types of batteries are in use in storage systems. Lithium iron phosphate-based batteries score very high in sustainability and considerate use of resources. They have a long service life, and using lithium iron phosphate as raw material for cell production makes them more environmentally friendly. Lithium iron phosphate is a substance that, in its chemical composition, can be found as a naturally occurring mineral. Lithium iron phosphate batteries do not use controversial and problematic raw materials such as cobalt make. They are the prime choice for combining economic value with a minimum of ecological impact.

Summary

Power storage systems make an important contribution to sustainability. They can substantially reduce the carbon footprint and help build a decentralised power supply. The battery type is significant when choosing a sustainable power storage system. Lithium iron phosphate batteries a long service life which helps to conserve precious resources.