Energy balancing is the management of electricity flows. Depending on the equipment selected, this function can be performed by a control solution integrated into the battery or inverter, or by an additional controller that works in conjunction with the battery, inverter, and the facility’s electrical system.
The control solution adapts to electricity prices and the facility’s actual electricity needs. Based on current data, it determines when it is most beneficial to draw electricity from the public grid, when to store it for later use, and when to use the stored energy.
With a storage unit, energy balancing helps better utilise its capabilities. Without smart management, a storage unit operates quite simply: it charges, discharges, and waits for the next cycle. Balancing solutions allow storage units to be integrated into the facility’s entire electricity system and managed based on energy prices, consumption needs, power limits, and the storage unit’s status.
Battery management based on electricity prices
Many people may assume that energy storage solutions are only useful if you have a solar or other renewable energy power plant. However, a battery can also be charged from the grid, even without a power plant.
The battery’s operation can be managed based on price changes on the Nord Pool electricity exchange. When electricity is cheaper than at other times of the day, the battery is charged from the grid. When prices rise, the stored energy is used on-site, so less expensive electricity can be purchased at that time.
The stored energy can be used not only for your own needs. If technical capabilities and contractual terms allow, it can be sold back to the grid when prices are more favourable. In this way, the storage system becomes not only a backup energy source but also an active part of the electricity market.
Price-based management helps avoid unprofitable decisions. There are periods in the electricity market when selling energy to the grid becomes unprofitable. At such times, smart management can redirect energy to the storage unit, use it for the facility’s needs, or limit its feed-in to the grid.
Import Limit and Peak Load Management
The import limit indicates the maximum amount of electricity a facility can draw from the grid at any given time. If consumption approaches the set limit, the management system can reduce the amount of electricity drawn from the grid. For example, battery charging can be paused, its operating mode can be changed, or part of the demand can be met using already stored energy.
This feature is relevant for facilities where electricity demand is not constant, such as manufacturing plants, warehouses, retail facilities, hotels, farms, or electric vehicle charging stations. In such facilities, consumption can spike suddenly when multiple pieces of equipment, such as refrigeration, heating, ventilation, or charging systems, are operating simultaneously.
Import limit management helps prevent exceeding the set power limit and reduces the risk of excessive load. The practical benefit is simple: the facility draws electricity from the grid more evenly, and consumption peaks are managed automatically, not manually, according to set limits.
Battery protection
It is important to protect the battery itself. Continuous discharge to very low levels or operation in an inappropriate mode can shorten the battery’s service life.
Therefore, energy-balancing solutions take into account not only the cost of electricity but also the battery's condition. Limits can be set to determine when the battery is used more actively and when energy is kept in reserve. This helps avoid unnecessary battery loading and ensures more stable system operation.
PINUS LT solutions for energy balancing
PINUS LT helps select energy-balancing solutions tailored to the facility's specific needs. It assesses how the facility uses electricity, when peak demand occurs, the power limits, the required storage unit size, and the control functionality needed.
A properly selected solution enables more precise use of the storage unit: charging when it’s cost-effective, using it when needed, protecting it, and avoiding unprofitable actions in the electricity market. Energy balancing helps not only to install a storage unit but also to integrate it into the electricity management system as an active part.
To assess which energy-balancing solution is suitable for a specific facility, it is worth contacting PINUS LT specialists. They will help evaluate the technical capabilities, energy demand, and the most appropriate storage management principle.