‘Battery Flex’ is a battery storage system whose battery module uses components that are also used in the BMW Group's electric cars. The new storage system sets new standards in terms of technology and design and will be available from Solarwatt-certified premium installers from autumn 2021.
As a pioneer in the PV industry, Solarwatt set important standards in modularity and safety in 2015 with the introduction of its own battery storage system. With ‘Battery Flex’, Solarwatt is now introducing the next generation of storage: Together with its technology partner BMW Group, the Dresden-based company has developed a battery storage system that meets the very highest industry standards and can always be adapted to the relevant customer requirements.
The battery modules of the ‘Battery Flex’ storage system are manufactured by Solarwatt in close cooperation with the BMW Group, which supplies Solarwatt with high-quality battery components that are also used in the group's current electric vehicles. The storage system is developed entirely by Solarwatt in Germany and produced in an environmentally friendly manner. The highly efficient battery management system, which enables safe operation of the storage unit at all times, was developed by Dr. Olaf Wollersheim together with his team at Solarwatt Innovation.
“This product incorporates the comprehensive automotive expertise of the global BMW Group coupled with the in-depth storage know-how that we have built up at Solarwatt in recent years” said Solarwatt CEO Detlef Neuhaus. “The production is then carried out by us – but with the same quality standards that are used in the automotive industry. In addition, the storage unit also has an attractive design that immediately catches the eye. Battery flex is, so to speak, the BMW among battery storage units and the ideal addition to any photovoltaic system”.
Dr. Eric Hamm, Head of Drive Systems for Industrial Customers and Remanufacturing at the BMW Group, added that the company pays particular attention to
High standards with regard to the environment and working conditions sustainability in addition to high energy density and efficiency and that it attaches great importance to ensuring that all environmental and social standards are met in the group’s supply chains. This means that the cell modules with their special properties are also ideal for use outside the vehicle.
For partner Solarwatt, sustainability and the guarantee of comprehensive social standards throughout the supply chain are also essential.
The ‘Battery flex’ home storage system is modular in design and flexible in terms of capacity from 4.8 kWh up to a size of more than 240 kWh. The storage unit can thus be perfectly adapted to the existing photovoltaic system, which keeps costs low and also conserves resources. In addition, the storage unit can be integrated into the direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) circuit and is thus also suitable for retrofitting into any existing system.
The individual components of ‘Battery flex’ weigh no more than 25 kilograms. This means that the storage system can be easily installed by a single person. Using an existing Internet connection, the latest software version and new functionalities are always automatically uploaded.
The electricity demand in a home is typically particularly high in the morning and evening hours. With a battery storage system, the self-generated solar power can be used when it is needed. This increases the self-consumption rate to up to 80 percent, which reduces energy costs in the household and thus CO2 emissions particularly significantly. The use of the Solarwatt ‘Battery flex’ battery storage system in conjunction with the Solarwatt ‘Manager flex’ is particularly efficient. The intelligent energy management system controls and optimises the energy flows in the household and thus ensures that as much solar power as possible is consumed in the household itself. In this way, the purchase of grid electricity can be reduced and energy costs lowered even further. The Solarwatt ‘Manager flex’ also takes care of the intelligent charging of an electric vehicle.
The partnership between Solarwatt and the BMW Group has already been in place since April 2013. The collaboration initially involved arranging complete photovoltaic solutions for roof systems and carports for BMWi customers. The development of the new electricity storage system is now the next step in collaboration. The common goal is to develop further customer-centric and sustainable solutions, that the fields of photovoltaics and electromobility grow together and that help to reduce CO2 emissions.
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