Savant stackable system provides ample power storage and total control
At 9,600 feet above sea level, the Panorama Idea Home in Breckenridge, Colo., is an all-electric 6,610-square-foot custom retreat that pulls its power from a rooftop photovoltaic solar array.
Thrive Homes Builders designed it to be comfortable, energy efficient, carbon-neutral, and to qualify as a U.S. Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH). The end result required a workable and efficient method of storing electricity with capacity to provide ample power for the forced air heating and cooling system, along with an electric vehicle (EV) charging station.
Fortunately for Thrive, Savant proved to be a tech savvy partner who could combine on-site power storage with a suite of state-of-the art options.
Battery storage to serve any need
“The Savant battery system is super cutting edge – way beyond anything that has been available to homebuilders in the past,” says Gene Myers, founder and Chief Sustainability Officer at Thrive, which used the Savant Power Storage 20, a scalable inverter utilizing a LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery system. The choice aligns well with the environmentally friendly goals of the Panorama Idea Home as LFP batteries do not contain harmful heavy metals.
For the Panorama Idea Home, Thrive opted for multiple connected units to provide 125 kW of storage for up to 200 kWh to the home. Energy efficient appliances, lighting, and mechanical equipment help ensure the home will have ample power to stay comfortable year-round. The tall, narrow units in the garage are scalable to increase capacity. The Power Storage 20 system is self-contained with a 12.5 kW inverter and power director component unit. The modular system cuts installation time by more than half compared to other large battery solutions and can be completed by a contractor in an afternoon.
Power and control at hand
The power director unit manages the flow of electricity to the house and is controlled by the homeowner with an easy-to-use mobile app.
“Control really gives the homeowner some neat options,” Myers says. Load shedding, for example, is when power companies limit parts of the grid during high peak hours. The Power Storage 20 system enables a constant and reliable energy platform for the home regardless of the grid.
In addition, arbitrage is a strategy where the battery system stores excess energy when solar energy is abundant and then it is used to power the home to offset demand during peak pricing times of the day. Cost savings can also be achieved by charging the battery from the grid during off-peak times of the day when electricity is less expensive and then using that stored energy during peak pricing periods.
Separately from arbitrage, homeowners can take advantage of net metering to further enhance their ROI. This is effectively selling any excess energy that is generated from solar that you can’t use or store back to the utility company.
“Between the solar array and the battery storage, we almost don’t need the grid,” Myers says. “With this Savant system, the homeowner can store power when it is free or inexpensive and then use it during peak pricing periods of the day to save a tremendous amount of money on energy bills.”
In the end, not only will the homeowner be able to manage energy usage from a cell phone, they also will be able to home in on specific systems to tailor electric usage to their lifestyle.
To view other smart home products sign up for the Pro Builder newsletters.
Resources and links:
See Savant products for the Panorama Idea Home
