With a backdrop of climate change, the UK energy system is quickly shifting from fossil-fuel-based to renewable-energy-based. However, issues exist on both fronts of the energy mix. On the side of the producers, the intermittency and expensive storage solutions make diversification of energy sources the only currently economically viable solution. On the other hand, consumers are expected to increase their energy needs by 50% by 2035, as the reliance on heat pumps and the number of Electric Vehicles (EVs) is expected to rise to 100% by 2035.
This leaves the end consumers wanting to invest more into renewable energy, but the savings simply do not add up: energy is cheaper when the sun shines as it is, effectively bringing down the potential savings. The only way to offset this (the duck curve) is to invest more in energy storage. However, these systems are expensive, and installing them without proper training can damage them. As an average family (and an average UK company) has no money to waste, the importance of good energy storage courses and training is ever-increasing.
Why Is a Battery Storage Course Important?
In fact, battery storage courses are more important than ever as the need to store excess renewable energy becomes more apparent. On the one hand, solar homeowners can save a lot of money by storing precious solar energy and using it during evenings, when energy prices in the UK typically increase. On the other hand, commercial energy storage can deliver energy at its peak price, making this an economically viable solution. All this brought about an increased need for battery storage installers, and the need for this type of training is expected to keep rising.
eCactus Solar insists on the benefits of good training. The modules usually purchased will cost thousands of pounds to buy and install, so having good training in how to install them can be very beneficial. In addition to this, the market also demands modular design and all-in-one solutions, all of which are supplied by the eCactus energy storage systems.
Who Is a Battery Storage Course for?
Even today, there are not enough people trained to install solar batteries. As there are many different models of solar batteries by different manufacturers, knowing what you are doing is more of a question of knowing the exact models and how they are to be connected to the solar system.
As solar systems are not simple, consisting of solar arrays, inverters, solar chargers and solar energy storage, knowing how all these components work together is of crucial importance for the safety of the system and the people installing and using it.
In fact, eCactus provides solutions with built-in hybrid inverters so that no customisation is necessary – no additional parts are needed. There are many people who can benefit from battery storage solutions and courses:
- Battery Installers
- Electrical Engineers
- Commercial Ventures
- Project Developers and Managers
- Insurers
- Lenders in the Energy Storage Field
- Utility Companies
Where Can You Find Online Courses on Battery Energy Storage?
Finding good, accredited courses should not be an issue. A simple search provides dozens of results. However, bearing in mind all we have covered about the contents of the course, we can set apart several of these. You or your employer could have a look and decide which is the best for your professional development.
NAPIT training: BPEC Electrical Energy Storage Systems
NAPIT provides the BPEC EESS course for £445. The qualification awarded is that of the BPEC Awards Certificate, valid for up to 5 years. You will receive the training in 2 days, and it is recommended that you get accustomed to the learning materials beforehand.
Deliverer: NAPIT training
Course Name: BPEC Electrical Energy Storage Systems
Duration: 2 days
Prerequisites: N/SVQ Level 3 in Electrical Installation and BS 7671: 2018 Requirements for Electrical Installations (18th Edition)
Delivery Method: on-location
Certificate Validity: 5 years
Qualification: BPEC Awards Certificate
Price (+VAT): £445
GTEC training: Battery Storage Training Course
The GTEC training: Battery Storage Training Course is a 2-day training course that has been designed with experienced electricians in mind. This is a Level 3 Battery Storage course, which is done in accordance with the IET Code of Practice for Electrical Energy Storage Systems.
Deliverer: GTEC training
Course Name: Battery Storage Training Course
Duration: 2 days
Prerequisites: Level 3 award in the Initial Verification and Certification of Electrical Installations and BS 7671: 2018 Requirements for Electrical Installations (18th Edition)
Delivery Method: on-location
Certificate Validity: Permanent
Qualification: LCL Awards
Price (+VAT): £495
LOGIC4Training: Battery Storage Course
The course was designed to help practising electricians move into the field of renewables. It focuses on battery storage and the best practices for prolonging the lifecycle of battery installations. The training is provided on location.
Deliverer: LOGIC4Training
Course Name: Battery Storage Course
Prerequisites: Level 3 award in the Initial Verification and Certification of Electrical Installations and BS 7671: 2018 Requirements for Electrical Installations (18th Edition)
Delivery Method: on-location
Certificate Validity: Permanent
Price (+VAT): £495
TS Total Skills: EAL Level 3 Solar Photovoltaic Systems & Battery Storage Systems EESS – 4 Day Course
TS Total Skills provides the EESS course as a part of a 4-day course on PV system installation and battery storage (a 2-in-1 type of course). The course is perfect for practising electricians who want to enter the renewables sector.
Deliverer: TS Total Skills
Course Name: EAL Level 3 Solar Photovoltaic Systems & Battery Storage Systems EESS
Duration: 4 days
Prerequisites: BS 7671: 2018 Requirements for Electrical Installations (18th Edition) Wiring Regulations and Inspection and Testing
Delivery Method: on location
Certificate Validity: Permanent
Price(+VAT): £975
ATT Activate Trade Training: Battery Storage Qualification Level 3
The ATT Battery Storage Qualification is also intended for practising electricians and battery installers. The course is supposed to bring you up to date with the latest developments in the field. It also aims to provide sufficient theoretical knowledge on the topic so that you can proceed with manufacturer-specific training.
Deliverer: ATT Activate Trade Training
Course Name: Battery Storage Qualification Level 3
Prerequisites: Level 3 Award in the Requirements for Electrical Installations BS7671 (current edition) and Level 3 Award in the Initial Verification and Certification of Electrical Installations
Delivery Method: on location
Certificate Validity: Permanent
Qualification: MCS-approved qualification
Price (+VAT): £450
Skills Training Group: Battery Storage Training Course (EESS)
The course is intended for practising learners and those who would like to expand their level of expertise to include renewable energy and battery storage. For this reason, the course is also offered adjunct to other courses in renewable energy. The course provides both theoretical and hands-on knowledge.
Deliverer: Skills Training Group
Course Name: Battery Storage Training Course (EESS)
Duration: 2 days
Prerequisites: BS 7671: 2018 Requirements for Electrical Installations (18th Edition) & a 2391 Qualification and a Formal Level 3 Certificate
Delivery Method: on location
Certificate Validity: Permanent
Qualification: MCS-approved qualification
Price (+VAT): £ 450
What Can You Learn in a Battery Storage Course?
For all the people described above, knowing what they are doing when designing and installing an energy system can be crucial. As solar arrays produce a high current, and batteries can store a lot of power (up to 10kWh for a single, standard module, enough to power an average UK home for 24 hours), the need for safety during handling and installation is more than obvious.
In fact, when it comes to a good energy storage course, they should cover a variety of topics, as everyone, from an average small-scale battery installer to a commercial venture, needs in-depth knowledge to make informed decisions.
Energy Course Landscape
As there are many different courses, all by different manufacturers and their representative branches in the UK, it is necessary to first understand what an ESS (Energy Storage Solution – Battery Storage Solution) course should cover. Besides the role of storage in the power grid, where it can be used to stabilise the grid, a good course should also cover:
- Application in energy storage,
- Different energy storage technologies (for home use and most small-scale commercial solutions, battery storage is the best),
- Trends in energy storage, with novel technologies that are being developed,
- Case studies and discussions on economic viability and pros and cons of solutions that are offered and
- General information on energy storage.
Energy Storage Essentials
When it comes to the energy storage essentials, knowing the types of ESS and basic system components is of paramount importance. From here on, we can expand into performance monitors (similar solutions are found as in-built solutions in heat pumps), performance indicators, and information on energy system sizing.
This is especially important as a system that has been sized and designed badly will cost more to build than is necessary or will be too small and will not allow for all renewable energy to be used. Finally, considering environmental concerns, a good system should also present information on reuse and recycling and where it can be done in the UK.
Energy Storage Projects
The next thing to discuss would be energy storage projects that have been carried out, information on their payback period and how different systems can influence the economic viability of such a project. Projects should be aimed at the desired audience. That is, they should reflect on case studies that the audience is familiar with – presenting grid-scale energy solutions to home battery system installers is hard to grasp.
Here, technical and project risks should be covered first. Warranties and responsibilities also cover this next, and example projects can follow. Risk analysis factors could be useful for investors and insurers, while a typical homeowner should also understand health and fire hazard risks. FAT (Factory Acceptance Testing) and SAT (Site Acceptance Testing), as well as which standard a typical product passes, also make it a good training.
Energy Storage Risks
When expanding on risks further, the course material should also cover theoretical and risks noticed in the field. Although this may present a minus to any manufacturer, it is important to note that a certain level of business maturity is showcased here – as there are no BESS solutions without any risks. In fact, risk mitigation in the energy field is a hot topic, both on the side of insurers and for the safety of all involved in the actual installation and use.
Standards and Regulation
As energy storage is relatively new, having information on the latest standards and regulations is necessary to prevent any issues down the road. In fact, any customer, residential or commercial, should have an insight into the standards that the product satisfies.
A good presentation will also include information on possible future developments of the standards and how the product addresses those as well. In the UK, G98 and G99 are the standard benchmarks. The EU Regulatory Framework and the Netherlands Regulatory Framework are two more examples of standards that a product could satisfy.
Solar PV and Battery Storage
As most solar storage owners install these systems to better utilise solar energy produced on their property instead of relying on sometimes unfavourable Smart Energy Guarantees (SEG), it is important to note how different ESS systems work with solar PV arrays of different sizes. They can be used to store energy for later use in the day or help stabilize the home grid and prevent excess energy from draining into the grid. With Vehicle to Grid (V2G) and Grid to Vehicle (G2V) technologies on the rise, these systems and systems for managing ESS are expected to keep growing.
Online Battery Storage Course
That said, an online battery storage course should be able to satisfy most of these needs. The most notable issue here could be the sheer volume of different manufacturers and their products and the number of different models marketed by the producers. A centralised inventory of the products could be useful but very difficult to establish.
Therefore, the manufacturer will give a good online course and display their individual products and installation manuals. The solutions offered by eCactus Solar make installation easy so that most of the training can be done online. These are ready-to-use solutions, much like plug-and-play that we are so used to with the best of today’s technology.
In-Company and Customised Training
The next most desirable solution would be to have in-company and customised training. As the training materials could be different from one model to the next, organised courses could cover several products aimed at a single battery market niche at a time. This way, different installers, be they residential or commercial, could have specific training aimed at them. This is a great training solution and is known to give good results.
Conclusion
When it comes to better utilising renewable energy, be this for further reducing your home electric bill or for commercial purposes, a good training course is of paramount importance. Not only will it be able to help you design a good energy system, but it will also help with sizing and understanding good installation practices for a maximum reduction of all risks, both during the installation and post-installation, during the utilisation of the product itself. Here, in-company and online training courses organised by manufacturers were proven to be the best solutions.
