The BRE National Solar Centre yesterday launched two new guides on solar storage systems, one of which has been aimed specifically at installers in the space.

The guide has been published to help installers select and fit battery storage systems so they operate properly with domestic solar installations, with storage set to become an increasingly viable investment for consumers.

The installers version – titled ‘Batteries with Solar Power – A Technical Guide to the use of Energy Storage with Grid-Connected Solar Photovoltaic Systems’ – features information on the technical requirements of domestic or small commercial battery systems.

It includes guidance on different battery types, DC and AC coupling, appropriate sizing and design requirements as well as information on charging profiles and maintenance.

Jonny Williams, director at BRE National Solar Centre, said: “These guides explain how the systems work and how to choose the right system for the right application.  Ultimately battery storage for PV will help people and businesses get the best return on their investments so making the right decisions is crucial.”

The guide’s launch comes as KPMG’s Simon Virley said at an event organised by the Renewable Energy Association yesterday that storage’s benefits could be such that the technology would not need subsidy support to be viable in the UK market.

Cuts to the feed-in tariff of up to 65% have placed substantially more importance on increasing self-consumption rates for solar installations, and storage is considered as an integral contributor to that increase.

Copies of the installer’s guide, priced at £25, will be available from 25 January at www.brebookshop.com.