what if you could...
Pay less for the energy you use?
Depending on the time of day and the grid that you're on, it's very common to have peak energy rates much higher than the off peak rate.
In these cases, you can use the battery to charge at the lower rates and discharge at the higher rates, saving a significant amount of money.
And if you don't need to use that energy, you can trade it back to the grid when prices rise, unlocking a new revenue stream for your business.
Power the transition to a fully electric fleet?
For many transport and logistics companies, the transition to a 100% electric fleet is an ambition held back by unreliable or unsuitable grid supply. And of course, using renewable energy for all your charging needs is right at the top of the wishlist.
ABB's BESS-as-a-Service decentralizes energy, enabling businesses to mitigate against grid constraints. With a BESS on your premises, you can improve the quality, capacity and resilience of your energy supply, allowing you to power an all-electric fleet with 100% renewable energy, all without a costly grid upgrade.
Add new revenue streams to your portfolio?
As well as the benefits of more reliable power and empowering a shift to 100% renewable energy, ABB's BESS-as-a-Service also allows you to unlock revenue streams you might not have considered.
Thanks to its ability to augment underpowered grid connections, BESS-as-a-Service allows you to skip a costly upgrade to your infrastructure, and use battery storage to supply power to EV charging stations on your premises.
And with ABB's AI-powered energy arbitrage software from our partners at GridBeyond, you purchase energy when it's cheap – or even generate your own – and sell it back to the grid when demand, and prices, are high.
Do all this with no capital expenditure?
ABB Electrification Service’s unique as-a-service model means that you can power your possibilities, thanks to a BESS solution, with no upfront capital expenditure. All the hardware, software, and support services are included in the as-a-service package.
We take care of the design of the system, the installation and commissioning including capital works, and even the ongoing maintenance of the system.
To find out more, request an obligation-free feasibility assessment.
You can,
with BESS-as-a-Service from ABB
engineered to outrun
engineered to outrun
engineered to outrun
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Outrun a changing energy landscape: The strategic role of battery energy storage systems in the transport and logistics industry
By Andressa Ferraz
Sustainability Advisory Services Leader for the EMEA region
The transport and logistics sector is increasingly turning to electrification to meet rising demand, cut emissions, and adapt to modern consumer expectations. However, weak grid connections and fluctuating energy costs pose significant challenges. Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) provide a strategic solution, enhancing grid reliability, reducing operational costs, and promoting sustainability, says Andressa Ferraz, Sustainability Advisory Services Leader for the EMEA region.
Read more
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Outrun a changing energy landscape: The strategic role of battery energy storage systems in the transport and logistics industry
By Andressa Ferraz
Sustainability Advisory Services Leader for the EMEA region
The transport and logistics sector is increasingly turning to electrification to meet rising demand, cut emissions, and adapt to modern consumer expectations. However, weak grid connections and fluctuating energy costs pose significant challenges. Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) provide a strategic solution, enhancing grid reliability, reducing operational costs, and promoting sustainability, says Andressa Ferraz, Sustainability Advisory Services Leader for the EMEA region.
Optimize your operating costs
Like many sectors, the logistics and transport industry is facing rising costs. High on this list is a company’s energy bill.
Through peak shaving and demand management, facilities can cut energy costs significantly using a BESS. By storing energy during off-peak hours and deploying it during high-demand periods, businesses can avoid peak demand charges. This approach is particularly beneficial for facilities like distribution centers that have variable energy needs.
Logistics companies can also turn power into profit by engaging in energy trading, or arbitrage. This process involves purchasing electricity during low-cost periods and supplying it back to the grid when prices are higher, thereby generating a profit.
Augment weak grid connections to expand your offering
Many transport and logistics companies are turning their attention to all-electric fleets, but many facilities face a familiar problem – how to charge all those vehicles.
For many logistics companies with remote hubs, or those operating in locations with weak or unreliable grids, a reliable supply of energy can be difficult to come by. And with EV charging – especially fast charging – requiring high-quality power, not all facilities have the connection required to power their charging requirements.
Enabling fast charging through a grid upgrade can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, a BESS solution will stabilize and augment weak grid connections by providing immediate power support. This mitigates voltage fluctuations and ensures a consistent energy supply – allowing your business to install fast charging capabilities without the need for an expensive grid upgrade.
A giant step toward net zero transport
A weak or fluctuating grid is not the only source of unstable power supplies. Many businesses have already made a start on their net zero journey by making a partial, or full, transition to renewable energy. But the wind doesn’t always blow, and the sun doesn’t always shine. By storing energy from renewable sources, such as solar panels, BESS allows logistics and transport facilities to operate smoothly even when renewable generation is unstable or unavailable. This integration supports the sector’s shift towards greener energy consumption and reduces reliance on fossil fuels.
Integrating your BESS with renewable energy systems also decreases your reliance on fossil fuels, and can align your operations with decarbonization goals. This contributes to lower greenhouse gas emissions and supports environmental commitments.
ABB’s BESS-as-a-Service
It has to be acknowledged – traditional BESS implementations involve significant upfront costs, and require specialist knowledge and skills that are not always available to transport and logistics businesses.
But ABB’s unique BESS-as-a-Service model addresses all of those concerns. Thanks to this model, implementing a BESS on your site is possible with no up-front capital expenditure. In addition, the planning, installation and ongoing maintenance of the equipment is handled by ABB – your single point of contact for all aspects of the implementation. You’ll also get access to management software that allows you to monitor the system from a single screen. And thanks to the savings possible with energy management, many of our customers see a positive financial return from day one.
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Take control of your energy
A guide to BESS-as-a-Service for Facilities and Operations Managers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a BESS (Battery Energy Storage System)?
A battery energy storage system, or BESS, is an onsite solution for energy storage. You can use the battery to store energy purchased from the grid, or energy that you have generated on your own premises. This energy can then be used to smooth out unreliable grid supply, bolster inadequate supply, or act as back-up in the event of total grid failure.
As well as being used for electricity storage, a BESS allows you to engage in energy arbitrage and peak shaving to make the most out of your energy use, and turn power into profit.
Precise battery capacity and chemistry is determined by customer need – ABB will work with you to determine your requirements and deliver a BESS solution that will help you meet all your objectives.
What is energy arbitrage?
Energy arbitrage is the practice of purchasing energy when it is cheap, and selling it back to the grid when the prices are higher.
Businesses that generate their own energy, through solar panels or wind turbines for example, can also choose to sell excess energy back to the grid.
The most efficient way of generating income from energy arbitrage is to use automated software that tracks prices and capacity and programmatically trades energy when the rewards are largest.
What is peak shaving?
Peak shaving is the practice of purchasing energy when rates are low – at night, for example – and storing it in a battery for use when the prices are higher.
The practice empowers businesses to optimise their energy use and reduce their overall operation costs.
What is power smoothing?
The supply of power from electrical grids can sometimes be unreliable, especially when that power is provided via renewable methods. Power smoothing, or grid smoothing, is a practice that uses battery energy storage systems (BESS) to mitigate the problems of variable outputs from the grid.
BESS systems sit between your grid connection and the consumption of power, and use stored energy to smooth out the differences in output so that your equipment receives an uninterrupted, reliable energy supply.
What is the capacity of the battery?
The specifications of the battery you use will be defined by your need. ABB's BESS-as-a-Service solution includes a comprehensive analysis of your business objectives, energy use, and future expansion plans.
ABB guarantees that the useable capacity of your battery will meet your requirements for the life of the battery – even taking into account the natural degradation of battery capacity over time. That means if you need 5MW for 10 years, your battery will be designed to deliver that capacity for the whole life of the system.
How is it possible to get a BESS without any up-front capital expenditure?
ABB's BESS-as-a-Service uses a unique financing model that means there is no up-front capital expenditure required. Instead, the system is paid for using a predictable subscription plan, allowing you to build it into your ongoing operational expenditure.
You can find out more about the financing model in our guide for finance teams.
How do I know if BESS-as-a-Service is right for me?
To find out more about ABB's BESS-as-a-Service offer, and how it can help you take control of energy, request an obligation-free feasibility assessment.
Request an obligation-free feasibility assessment
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