Hello everyone. As you all are aware, I constantly strive to bring you the latest news, trends, and insights from the vibrant world of solar technology. Today, we are going to dive into the evolving space of home energy storage, a critical component of solar arrays for homes.
In my extensive interactions with solar companies, I’ve noticed that the home energy storage provider market tends to be quite consolidated. A report from Wood Mackenzie reveals that the top five players hold a whopping 59% of the market share. However, that’s not to say that there’s no room for newcomers.
For instance, FranklinWH, a startup just two years old, now holds a top-ten market share position within the lithium-ion home battery market. That’s quite the achievement, especially considering the fact that they only completed their first storage project in 2023.
The key to FranklinWH’s success lies in their origins in the Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) industry, where they supported datacenters, utilities, and industrial backup solutions. They’ve carried that knowledge and expertise into the home storage business, focusing on whole-home support.
Their current primary offering: an AC-coupled battery with a built-in inverter, plus a smart energy management system. The aim is to seamlessly integrate power sources with the home, transitioning to backup power during a grid outage in just 16 milliseconds. Also, their solution adds 13.6 kWh per unit to a home with a continuous power of 5 kW and a peak power capacity of 10 kW.
When in conversation with FranklinWH’s Chief Commercial Officer, Vincent Ambrose, he shared his vision of bringing “power back to the people.” This mission is guided by offering homeowners full backup and control of energy at their fingertips. He views their product as a “microgrid in a box,” aiming to provide more than just a battery – it’s a comprehensive home energy management solution.
What I like about FranklinWH is how they are innovating in the solar sector. By enabling homeowners to manage input from solar panels for their home, the grid, or a generator into the battery, along with the benefit of electrical load management, they’re empowering homeowners to take control over their energy production and consumption.
This is more important now than ever before, as electricity prices keep rising and time-of-use and demand-related charges keep increasing. More and more solar companies are realizing this and are adapting their offerings to match. The future, it seems, will be about inflation-proofing our electrical requirements.
When you invest in a solar array for home, you are investing in your independence from unpredictable utility bills. The argument for solar becomes even stronger, especially in major markets like California, where compensation for exporting solar production to the grid has been drastically reduced. A flexible home battery, in such cases, emerges as an essential feature in any economical solar project.
I couldn’t agree more with Ambrose when he said that solar PV is like a knife—it does one thing efficiently. But when you add an energy management system with a battery to it, you get a Swiss Army Knife of functionality.
My core message to you all, after years of engaging with solar companies and observing the market, is this: Choice is power. Whether you require uninterrupted power for medical devices, desire lower energy bills, or simply want to charge your EV with home-generated solar, energy management systems are the way to go.
Remember, sustainability doesn’t have to be a mere desire anymore—with the right tools and the right solar company, it can be a way of life.
Original Articlehttps://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/03/14/a-swiss-army-knife-for-home-energy-management/
