FAQ — Battery Storage for Commerce & Industry

Four factors decide: energy (kWh), required power (kW), site conditions and operating strategy. For smaller commercial sites, GRES cabinets are usually the right choice; for higher demand peaks, longer peak-shaving windows or larger energy throughput we look at BRES systems up to container scale. For a first assessment, a rough description of consumption, peak load and application is usually enough — reliable sizing follows with load-profile and site data.

About peak shaving →

GRES (commercial storage) are compact outdoor cabinets from the GRES-75-50 up to the GRES-300-200. They need no container, stand on a concrete foundation and are the right choice for single sites between 50 and 200 kW. BRES (battery energy storage system) covers the larger all-in-one and container systems: the BRES-240-125 is a compact BESS, the BRES-720-375 a 10 ft container, the BRES-1200-625 and BRES-2400-1250 are 20 ft and 40 ft containers. PCS, climate control, BMS and protection are integrated — suitable for industry, charging parks, utilities and grid-related applications.

For peak shaving, power and duration of the demand peak count separately. Rule of thumb: the higher the peak to be shaved and the longer it lasts, the more storage power and usable capacity are needed. We include a safety buffer because demand peaks rarely repeat identically. The peak-shaving page gives a first orientation; final sizing is done with load profile, grid connection and operating strategy.

To the peak-shaving page →

Yes. GRES cabinets are paralleled on the AC side — typically two to four units at a common point of connection. BRES containers are coupled via the integrated EMS or a supervisory SCADA. Up to 4 MWh, several BRES-1200-625 or one BRES-2400-1250 with an extension container are the usual architecture. Above 5 MWh it becomes project-specific — talk to us.

Sizing enquiry →

All SCU systems use LiFePO₄ cells. The GRES series is designed for ≥ 5,000 full cycles, the BRES series for ≥ 6,000. At one cycle per day that is roughly 13 to 16 years — provided temperature, charging windows and operating strategy fit. The binding warranty terms, residual-capacity values and service levels are stated in the quotation and the service contract. That is why we size systems not only by kWh, but also by expected cycle count, ambient temperature and operating profile.

Which verifications apply depends on voltage level, inverter power, point of connection and operating mode — typically VDE-AR-N 4105 for low voltage and VDE-AR-N 4110 for medium voltage in Germany. The final scope (application rule, unit certificates, NS protection, plant certificates) is set by the grid operator during the connection process. We clarify the verification chain before the connection request and deliver the manufacturer documents directly to electrician and grid operator.

Yes. Every grid-connected storage system must be registered with the responsible distribution system operator, regardless of size. Which documents are required depends on grid level, power, operating mode and DSO requirements. For larger plants or medium-voltage connections, plant certificates, protection concepts and register entries are added. We provide your electrician with the necessary model documents and clarify early which verifications the specific point of connection requires.

The point of connection is the interface between the customer installation and the public grid. VDE-AR-N 4105 typically applies in the low-voltage grid, VDE-AR-N 4110 in the medium-voltage grid. Storage power alone does not decide this — voltage level, generation/consumption mode, inverter, protection concept and grid-operator requirements all play a role. We therefore clarify the connection situation before the final selection of model, PCS power and verification package.

For pure storage applications — self-consumption, peak shaving, backup power — metering law is not required. It becomes relevant as soon as energy from the storage is sold to third parties (charging-park operation with billing, direct marketing on the power market). In those cases we combine the storage with certified DC chargers or a calibrated metering point. Raise this before sizing so that the MID or PTB path is chosen cleanly.

GRES models speak RS485 and CAN, BRES additionally LAN and Modbus TCP. This connects common EMS and SCADA environments. Which registers, control commands and monitoring functions each model provides is stated in the technical documentation. Cloud monitoring and gateway scope are defined in the quotation or the service setup.

Yes — the BRES-1200-625 is a 20 ft ISO container with 1,206 kWh gross capacity and 625 kW PCS power. Dimensions 6,058 × 2,438 × 2,591 mm; the weight depends on the configuration — the current datasheet is authoritative. Climate control, BMS, PCS and protection are integrated; on site you need a foundation, grid connection, transfer station and data link. For smaller applications there is the BRES-720-375 in 10 ft format, for large projects the BRES-2400-1250 in a 40 ft container.

A reinforced-concrete slab is standard, dimensioned for the actual container weight per the current datasheet plus a safety factor. We supply an installation drawing with load points and anchor positions per container type. Screw foundations are possible if the subsoil allows; in seismically active regions we recalculate per project. Earthing in line with the applicable wiring standards (in Germany DIN VDE 0100-540) is mandatory.

Yes. All BRES models are IP54-protected and designed for outdoor installation. The operating temperature range is −20 °C to +55 °C; the integrated air conditioning keeps cell temperature in the optimal window. What the site adds: minimum distances per fire-safety concept (typically 3 m to neighbouring buildings), a paved access road for commissioning and free ventilation for the cooling units.

BRES containers come with multi-level monitoring and integrated protection: temperature, smoke and gas monitoring, BMS shutdown, alarm forwarding and — depending on the model — a suppression or extinguishing system. Which verifications, test reports and fire-safety distances ultimately apply depends on site, building code, insurer and fire brigade. We supply the manufacturer documents in full; the fire-safety concept is coordinated per project with all parties.

Up to the BRES-1200-625 (20 ft), transport by standard semi-trailer is usually possible; the BRES-2400-1250 (40 ft) requires heavy-load equipment depending on configuration weight and, depending on the route, a road-traffic permit. Lithium storage systems fall under ADR class 9 (UN 3536) — we handle transport with ADR-certified carriers including all accompanying documents. A building permit at the installation site is usually only needed for permanent container sites with a foundation; we clarify this with the local building authority.

GRES systems speak RS485 and CAN. BRES containers additionally Modbus TCP over LAN — the de-facto standard for industrial EMS and SCADA. The Modbus register table is part of the technical documentation and covers SoC, SoH, active and reactive power, alarms and setpoints, both reading and controlling. For utility integrations we provide IEC 60870-5-104 on request.

In most projects, yes. Decisive are model, interface, communication requirements and the existing control system. Modbus TCP, CAN or gateway connections are tested against the target system during the project. The scope of register list, parameterisation and commissioning support is fixed in the quotation or the integration concept.

The systems can be delivered with a cloud gateway and monitoring portal. The portal shows live values for SoC, SoH, cell voltages, temperatures, active/reactive power and alarms. Historical data, export functions and alarm routes are defined in the monitoring setup or service contract. Service-relevant events — climate, BMS, protection messages — can be forwarded directly to operator, control room and service partner on request.

Yes, we often plan PV, storage and charging infrastructure together. We look at how PV generation, grid connection, charging power and storage strategy interact at the transfer point. Depending on the project, the EMS coordinates PV self-consumption, peak shaving and charging priorities. The right storage and PV size follows from load profile and grid connection.

Charging park + storage →

Warranty and service scope are defined per project and contract. Cell warranty, system warranty, residual-capacity terms, maintenance intervals and response times are stated bindingly in the quotation, the manufacturer documents and the service contract. For projects in Germany we plan service, spare-parts availability and remote support from the quotation phase. Short response times or defined spare-parts stocking can be agreed as a separate service level.

Eligibility depends strongly on the use case — PV self-consumption, process energy, charging infrastructure, energy efficiency and direct marketing run under different programmes. In Germany, KfW 270 is an option for renewable-energy projects; KfW 295 and regional programmes are checked individually per site — they do not fit every storage project. One rule almost always applies: apply before placing the order. We are happy to give a first funding assessment and name the points to clarify with bank, funding body or tax adviser.

Request a funding check →

That depends strongly on load profile, demand charge, storage size and operating strategy. Peak shaving pays off above all when demand peaks are short, recurring and expensive. PV self-consumption, charging-park buffering or market-price windows improve the business case further, but must be netted out properly. A reliable payback calculation is therefore always done with your real site data.

More on peak shaving →

In principle yes, provided power, metering, controllability, availability and prequalification fit. In practice, marketing runs via an aggregator or direct marketer who pools several plants and coordinates prequalification with the responsible transmission system operator. Whether a specific SCU system is suitable for FCR or aFRR is decided by PCS power, EMS, communication link, site and marketing model. Revenues fluctuate strongly with auctions and market prices — reliable figures belong in a project-specific calculation.

Candidates are PV self-consumption, peak shaving, charging-park buffering, market-price windows and, in larger projects, balancing energy via an aggregator. Which combination makes sense follows from site, energy contract, metering concept and EMS. Prioritisation is mandatory — the storage cannot serve every revenue stream at maximum simultaneously. Until technology, marketing and contract model are fixed, we treat additional revenues as a scenario, not a promise.

The net prices on the product pages are hardware-only prices. Depending on the project, transport, civil works and foundation, electrical installation, protection equipment, commissioning, EMS integration and possibly a transformer station or medium-voltage connection are added. Which positions apply is decided by site and grid connection. We provide a reliable total CapEx after technical clarification and site review.

Request a fixed-price quote →