In the context of increasing energy costs and pressure to transition to sustainable business models, Vietnamese businesses are facing many energy challenges. Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) have gone beyond the role of a new technology to become a strategic energy management tool, bringing dual benefits in both economics and operations.
Rather than being a single solution, BESS is a multi-purpose asset that can simultaneously address multiple inherent business pain points. Here are five of the most practical and valuable applications that BESS brings to industrial and commercial environments.
1. Peak Shaving
This is the application that brings the most direct and obvious financial benefits. Electricity tariffs in Vietnam are divided into off-peak, normal and peak time frames, with significant cost differences.
- Problem: Businesses have to pay very high costs for electricity consumed during peak hours (morning and evening).
- BESS Solution: The system is programmed to automatically charge from the grid at night when electricity is cheapest. Then, during peak hours, the BESS will discharge this energy to supply the plant’s operations, helping to “cut” the peak power that must be purchased from the grid at the highest price.
- Result: Significantly reduce monthly electricity bills and optimize operating costs.
2. Backup Power
A sudden power outage, even for just a few seconds, can cause severe damage to automated production lines, data centers or critical business operations.
- Problem: Risk of production disruption, data loss and economic loss due to power grid failures.
- BESS Solution: BESS acts as a large-scale uninterruptible power supply (UPS), providing near-instant backup power (millisecond response) when a grid failure is detected.
- Result: Ensure 24/7 continuous operation for important equipment and lines, protecting businesses from losses caused by power outages.
3. Optimizing Renewable Energy
Many businesses have invested in rooftop solar power but often face the situation of wasting output at noon, when the sun is strong but the factory's consumption demand is not high.
- Problem: Waste of clean energy generated reduces the efficiency of investment in solar power systems.
- BESS Solution: The system will store all the excess solar power generated during the day. This energy can then be used in the evening, at night or on less sunny days.
- Result: Maximize 100% solar power output, increase energy self-sufficiency, reduce dependence on the grid and speed up payback time for renewable energy investments.
4. Internal Grid Stability
For large factories, industrial parks or facilities with many high-capacity equipment, power quality is a vital factor.
- Problem: Fluctuations in frequency and voltage in the internal power grid can affect the accuracy and life of sensitive machinery.
- BESS Solution: With its fast response capability, BESS can act as a filter and stabilizer, helping to regulate the frequency and voltage in the internal power grid, ensuring a cleaner and more stable power supply for the entire plant.
- Result: Improve power quality, protect expensive equipment and increase production efficiency.
5. EV Charging Support
The electric vehicle boom is creating a new challenge: the need for high-power charging can overload businesses' existing grid infrastructure.
- Problem: Installing multiple fast-charging stations for employee or customer electric vehicles could require costly electrical system upgrades.
- BESS Solution: BESS can be charged slowly during off-peak hours, then provide large capacity to quickly charge multiple electric vehicles at the same time during the day without putting pressure on the grid.
- Result: Enables businesses to deploy electric vehicle charging infrastructure flexibly, cost-effectively, and be ready for the future of electrified transportation.
BESS is not just a storage solution, but a smart and versatile energy management tool. By simultaneously solving many problems from cost, operation to sustainable development, BESS is becoming a strategic investment, helping Vietnamese businesses improve their competitiveness and lead the energy transition.
