Photovoltaic installations with battery storage in social buildings

Recent sharp rise of energy prices is putting tension of buildings with high concentration of vulnerable consumers, such as the social housing sector. Most of ongoing practises in Bulgaria related to the support of the most vulnerable groups are limited to the provision of short-term financial support without focusing on sustainability matters. There is an urgent need to establish innovative practises and protect end users through renewable energy. PV and battery energy storage hybrids are a key technology option for realizing a sustainable energy supply, as such systems are providing competitive renewable power to cover own needs. Such hybrids are enabling significant increase of the building’s energy self-consumption and self-sufficiency by storing the surplus energy for use during hours with no PV generation. To demonstrate the viability of such technology the Energy Agency of Plovdiv implemented a total of 3 PV + battery storage systems with a total installed power of 26 kWp and 82 kWh of storage capacity within three building with social purpose. The practice demonstrates a model where self-sufficiency increases considerably when battery storage is connected, enhancing prosumer`s autonomy, especially in off-heating season. Thus, any user of such technology can achieve significant cuts of electricity consumption and CO2 emissions, especially in months with high solar radiation. At the end, this is a prerequisite for reducing to minimum the risk of energy vulnerability.