Case Study: The Olde House cuts peak energy costs and boosts solar use with Centrica Business Solutions energy storage

The Olde House, new energy thinking

The Olde House, a leisure business in North Cornwall, was generating excess solar power during the day but still had to import expensive electricity from the grid during peak evening periods when holidaymakers returned. Centrica Business Solutions supported the site through its Local Energy Market (LEM) trial, using energy storage technology alongside the customer’s existing 250-kilowatt solar array.

Centrica Business Solutions installed six 1MWh energy storage machines to capture daytime solar energy for use later on site, while also linking the system to its LEM software platform to trade balancing services. The result was improved use of solar PV, elimination of costly peak grid imports, and up to a 50% reduction in peak-price energy purchases, while also creating a new revenue opportunity and moving The Olde House closer to energy independence.

The Olde House

Shaun Hawkey