General Motors launches residential storage system

US-based automotive manufacturing company General Motors (GM) has announced that its GM Energy unit has launched a modular storage energy system for residential applications.

“GM Energy is expanding its portfolio with the launch of the GM Energy PowerBank, a stationary storage product that gives EV owners the power to store and transfer energy from the grid, and the option of integrating with solar power equipment,” the company said in a statement.

The system is available in two versions with a capacity of 10.6 kWh and 17.7 kWh, respectively, and can be scaled to reach a capacity of up to 35.4 kWh, which the manufacturer said would enable approximately 20 hours of storage, assuming the average daily home energy appliance usage in the United States is approximately 30 kWh.

If the system is operated with a PV system, it can operate under three different modes: Backup Only mode, which fully charges the system for use in the event of an outage; Time of Use Discharge, which charges the system during off-peak times and discharging when prices are high; and Self-Consumption, which charges the system through the solar panels.

The GM Energy PowerBank includes GM Energy Inverter e1.11, a GM Energy PowerShift charger and GM Energy Vehicle-to-Home Enablement kit.

“For customers integrating solar power, GM Energy will refer customers to preferred installer Qmerit for site assessments, compatibility checks, and personalized quotes,” the company stated. “As with existing GM Energy V2H products, the GM Energy PowerBank and compatible solar power systems will be accessible via GM’s brand mobile apps, for seamless energy management.”