FlexHome Energy: Get a free home battery, let your utility use it, and save on energy costs

Germany’s FlexHome Energy claims to have developed a home energy storage system that can support the low-voltage electricity grid even in homes without a solar array.

The company’s “plug-and-play” system can, therefore, be used by apartment building residents, although FlexHome stressed it can also work in tandem with solar panels.

Customers connect the energy storage unit to their home power outlet and it is controlled by an intelligent metering system via a control box.

Electricity utilities will then use their exclusive access to what FlexHome termed a “swarm” of its energy storage units to aggregate their capacity and use it to help strengthen grid operations and even out peaks in demand.

FlexHome, based in Vogt, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, said it will supply the energy storage systems free of charge with the utility footing the bill out of the resultant savings in its grid operation costs. Participating customers will reduce their electricity bills via savings made from the unit’s intelligent control system.

With the lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cell-based units having 800 W of power output, nominal input power of 2 kW – according to the product data sheet – and energy storage capacity stated as 1.92 kWh, pv magazine estimates the systems would cost around €800 ($909).

The devices have a stated round-trip efficiency of 89%, are IP32 rated for indoor installation, measure 30 cm by 30 cm by 40 cm, according to the data sheet, and weigh around 25 kg.

FlexHome said the model has already been successfully tested in a student dormitory and other pilot projects are underway.

The provider intends to offer the product as an unbranded “white label” device for energy suppliers to add their own branding to build customer loyalty.

The product will be on show at the Intersolar trade fair in Munich from May 7 to May 9.

“Thanks to our residential [energy] storage system, households in multi-family buildings can also actively participate in, and benefit from the energy transition,” said Tobias Mader, managing director of FlexHome Energy. “A comprehensive rollout of smart metering systems is crucial for this – only then can the full potential of a controllable and digital power grid be safely utilized.”

From pv magazine Deutschland.