Eneco trials dynamic contracts for residential batteries to ease grid congestion

Dutch energy supplier Eneco and Dutch tech company Charged are trialling the use of power stored in residential batteries to alleviate stress on the grid through fixed or variable contracts.

According to the partners, they will work together to ensure a stable power grid while providing the customer with a financial benefit.

The partners cite the growing number of residential customers installing home batteries to store solar energy generated during the day for use at night. While home batteries have advantages for the energy consumption at home, they could also help alleviate the stress on the power grid.

This is where the service Gridease comes in, allowing customers with a Sessy home battery (developed by Charged) and either a fixed or variable contracts with Eneco to share data and part of the control over their batteries with Eneco.

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The data can be used to acquire more insight into the times the battery users charge or discharge their batteries.

Having partial control over home batteries means that Eneco can use their power at peak times to take the pressure off the electricity grid.

Customers participating in the trial will receive a financial compensation of €5 ($5.43) per month for sharing the data and a variable compensation for partly controlling the battery.

Customers will still have all the advantages of home battery usage, being able to use the self-generated electricity for themselves.

According to Eneco, until now, only consumers with a dynamic electricity contract could use the battery to relieve the stress on the power grid. This trial will also allow consumers with a fixed or variable contract to do so.

This also makes it possible for them to claim a VAT refund on the purchase price of the battery, making the investment in a battery more financially dynamic.