January 2024

Solar PV & BESS
BATTERY AFFORDABILITY IS
TRANSFORMING SOLAR POPULARITY
Commercial organisations have been slower to adopt battery storage than the domestic
solar market, primarily due to storage capabilities and affordability. Yet according to
Richard Williams, founder and Managing Director of Aztec Solar Energy Ltd, that’s now
changing as the challenges organisations once faced are easily remedied. Based at the
University of Warwick, Richard has over 30 years in the energy services sector and
below shares his views on how battery storage is transforming a sector’s ability to turn to
greener energy solutions.
The economic attractiveness of solar energy
has accelerated over the last five years
with more businesses adopting it to combat
rising energy costs and deliver long-term energy
security. Until now the expense of installations,
the difficulties of a retrofit, and lack of energy
storage has been a barrier, but that’s no longer
now the case.
Installing rooftop solar power is one of the best
investment opportunities available.
Batteries have become much more competitively
priced and rather than return the energy
harvested to the grid – where you don’t always
get the best price – they allow you to store that
power and draw on it as needed and
accommodate peaks in demand. Batteries can be
force-charged overnight at lower electricity rates
“The economy of
scale with battery
production is
bringing the
prices down and
making them a costeffective
solution”
and the energy used in the day when electricity
rates are higher.
Even if PV panels have been installed, battery
storage can be added afterwards. Many are
taking this option as the economy of scale with
battery production is bringing the prices down
and making them a cost-effective solution.
Batteries have reduced both in cost and in size by
Left: Richard Williams is foremost an engineer,
as well as founder and Managing Director of
Aztec Solar Energy Ltd, the nationwide
engineering-led consultancy and installer of
bespoke solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery
energy storage systems (BESS).
at least 40% over the last five years.
Here are ten top tips for installing solar
photovoltaic (PV) panels and battery systems
(BESS). These of course sit alongside good
roofing practice when installing renewable energy
systems.
1. Initial assessment
i) Check the age, condition and load capacity of
the roof
ii) The roof should be entirely non-combustible. If
not, consider installing a non-combustible layer
The drop in price and reduction in size of
battery storage solutions is making solar PV
more attractive to commercial properties
14 TC JANUARY 2024