Heterogeneous changes in electricity consumption patterns of residential distributed solar consumers due to battery storage adoption

• Published in: iScience 2022-06, Vol.25 (6), p.104352-104352, Article 104352
• Main Authors: Qiu, Yueming (Lucy), Xing, Bo, Patwardhan, Anand, Hultman, Nathan, Zhang, Huiming
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Electrical system; energy management; energy Modeling; energy policy; energy storage; energy systems
• ISSN: 2589-0042; 2589-0042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104352

This study provides an empirical assessment of how adopting battery storage units can change the electricity consumption patterns of PV consumers using individual-consumer-level hourly smart meter data in Arizona, United States. We find that on average after adding batteries, PV consumers use more solar electricity to power their houses and send less solar electricity back to the grid. In addition, adding battery storage reduces electricity needed from the grid during system peak hours, helping utilities better flatten the load curves. Most importantly, we find a large degree of heterogeneity in the changes in electricity consumption patterns due to adopting battery storage that are not consistent with engineering or economic principles such as those not maximizing consumers’ economic benefits. Such heterogeneous changes imply that utilities and policymakers need to further study the underlying behavioral reasons in order to maximize the social benefits of battery storage and PV co-adoption. [Display omitted] •Adding battery storage changes solar consumers’ electricity consumption patterns•Adding battery increases self-consumption of solar electricity•Battery reduces electricity needed from the grid during system peak hours•We find a large degree of heterogeneity in the changes in consumption patterns Energy policy; Electrical system; Energy management; Energy Modeling; Energy storage; Energy Systems