Lithium iron phosphate battery-based energy storage systems from German manufacturer Automatic Storage Device Sonnenspeicher (ASD) will be installed in new houses from WeberHaus, which makes prefabricated homes for the German market.
The battery storage system will allow the houses’ occupants to self-consume power generated by rooftop solar panels. ASD claims homeowners will be able to consume up to 90% of their generated energy. At present, self-consumption onsite without a battery in Germany is limited by law to 70% of a PV system’s output, mainly for reasons of grid stability.
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Since last year, Germany has been offering subsidies for a portion of the cost of lithium-ion battery systems. Systems must meet the technical and safety standards set out by national development bank KfW.
Lithium iron phosphate battery chemistry, as used in ASD's systems. Image: ASD.
ASD’s systems employ a lithium iron phosphate battery system, which company head Wolfram Walter claims was chosen due to the safety of use, which WeberHaus also picked out as one of the main reasons for their selection, in addition to the high efficiency of the systems.
PV Tech Storage interviewed Walter in June at the Intersolar Europe show in Munich, where he told the story of how he, an engineer and pilot with no background in renewable energy, went from wanting a home storage system for his own personal PV installation to designing one himself and then starting ASD as a result.
WeberHaus tested the system for seven months at a show home near Freiburg, before making its decision to use ASD for all of its storage requirements.
The announcement follows recent news that a deal between US company SunPower and production home builder KB Home has resulted in the launch of a ‘double zero energy’ house, which features energy storage from SunPower as well as solar panels.
Watch Wolfram Walter of ASD talk about designing and commercialising energy storage systems, and why he thinks storage devices should be more than just "sh**ty boxes".
The Weberhaus showhome, near Freiburg, Germany. Image: WeberHaus.