The Value of Behind-The-Meter Energy Storage for Buildings: A Case Study on a University Building in South Africa

Energy storage systems (ESS) have emerged to play an increasingly important role in modern, complex electricity grid systems due to their potential to balance power supply and demand. Furthermore, ESS systems offer the potential to smooth out electricity supply from variable sources such as wind and solar power. Beyond the technical value they bring to the design and operation of modern power systems, ESS also offer the potential to create economic value to owners through many use cases such as demand charge reduction through peak load shaving, and energy arbitrage, also known as time-of-use shifting. The potential to achieve widespread adoption of ESS systems is largely dependent on demonstrating value to would-be consumers. In this study, the value of one potential use case for ESS systems - “behind-the-meter” energy storage for buildings - is explored. Specifically, this value is explored through the lens of a case study of an academic building located on the Stellenbosch University campus in Western Cape, South Africa.